This milestone comes as Uganda gears up for the January 2026 general elections, with the commission now racing to validate submissions amid tight deadlines.
Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, the official presidential candidate for National Unity Platform (NUP) has declared September 23, as the date for his nomination to vie for the presidency in the coming general elections.
Kyagulanyi says after his nomination at the new Electoral Commission (EC) headquarters at Lweza, he will address his supporters at Katwe and Nateete.
He is standing as the presidential candidate for the second time, following his first bid in 2021 which he lost to the incumbent, NRM’s Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
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By Wednesday September 17, the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Justice Simon Byabakama had declared that 30 presidential hopefuls had presented to EC their required supporter signatures, setting the stage for nominations later this month.
This milestone comes as Uganda gears up for the January 2026 general elections, with the commission now racing to validate submissions amid tight deadlines.
In a media briefing at the EC headquarters in Kampala’s Industrial Area, Byabakama outlined the legal hurdles candidates must clear. Under the Presidential Elections Act, each contender needs endorsements from at least 100 registered voters in no fewer than 98 districts nationwide, totaling a minimum of 9,800 signatures. The EC’s role is to scrutinize these lists rigorously, confirming that every signer is a verified voter in their listed district and hasn’t backed multiple candidates.
“Verification involves matching names, signatures, and voter records,” Byabakama stated. “If everything checks out, we grant a compliance certificate, paving the way for nomination fees and official clearance.” He stressed the importance of scheduling nomination slots on September 23 or 24 to prevent last-minute rushes at the new EC offices in Lweza, Entebbe.
Among the 30 who met the deadline are several familiar faces from the 2021 general elections, where 11 candidates vied for the top job. Incumbent President Yoweri Museveni, 80, of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), submitted over 2.2 million signatures last Friday, far exceeding requirements after his party’s primaries endorsed him for a potential seventh term.
Opposition leader, NUP’s Robert Kyagulanyi, also filed his forms. The musician-turned-politician, who garnered 35 percent in 2021, has vowed to challenge Museveni again despite facing arrests and threats.
Other returning contenders include the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Secretary General Nathan Nandala Mafabi, leads his party’s bid. Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) President Jimmy Akena, son of the party’s founder, submitted signatures backing his run. Independent Joseph Kabuleta, a journalist and pastor filed through his National Economic Empowerment Dialogue (NEED) party, despite internal wrangling.
Young firebrand John Katumba, 28, who made history as Uganda’s youngest candidate in 2021 at age 24, resubmitted his forms. His youthful energy drew global notice last cycle, and he’s back as an independent. Rounding out notables are Democratic Party (DP) hopeful Norbert Mao, though party disputes over flag-bearers continue, and Uganda Federal Alliance’s Peter Walubengo Mayanja, a perennial contender.
Byabakama praised the early birds but urged the remaining 180 plus aspirants from the initial 220 who picked forms in August to hurry. “We opened submissions on August 11 plenty of time for dedicated candidates to gather support. Don’t wait; verification takes time,” he advised. Slots are filling fast, and late entries risk disqualification.