Previously, the election details and calendar showed that the general elections for presidential, parliamentary, and local government leaders were to be held between January 12 and February 9, 2026.
The nomination for parliamentary candidates, including Special Interest Groups (SIGs), was rescheduled from mid-October to October 22–23, 2025, due to Uganda’s hosting of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Mid-term Review Conference. And the nominations were to take place at the respective district and city Returning Officer’s offices.
However, the official polling period for the 2026 General Elections was always designated to fall between January 12 and February 9, 2026.
While as of October 21, 2025 it was confirmed that Uganda’s presidential and parliamentary elections would take place on January 15.
The current official date announced for Uganda’s presidential and parliamentary elections was January 15, 2026.
Here’s a breakdown of the latest election information:
- Election date: Presidential and parliamentary elections were confirmed for January 15, 2026.
- Campaigning: All campaign activities must be concluded by January 13, 2026, 48 hours before the polling day.
- Nomination dates: The nomination of presidential candidates took place on September 23–24, 2025.
- Nominations and eligibility: A full list of the 8 presidential candidates who met the nomination criteria was released in late September 2025.
- Security for candidates: The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has confirmed it will provide security for all presidential candidates throughout the election period.
This updated information clarifies the timeline for the 2026 general elections based on the latest announcements from the Electoral Commission.
Furthermore, the EC had made other adjustments to the election road map during 2025, providing insight into the types of reasons that can cause scheduling changes. These included:
- Allowing for critical post-nomination activities: An adjustment to the presidential nomination dates was made to ensure sufficient time for tasks such as printing ballot papers and harmonizing campaign schedules. The EC noted that sticking to the original schedule would have “drastically reduce[d] the period available for the campaigns”.
- Accommodating international events: Parliamentary nomination dates were rescheduled in September 2025 because Uganda was hosting an international conference that would involve key government and security officials.
- Addressing funding gaps: In January 2025, Byabakama publicly highlighted a significant funding shortfall that could threaten the elections, indicating that financial challenges can also impact the election timeline.
- Managing internal party issues: The EC has also dealt with operational complications caused by inconsistencies in political parties’ internal nomination processes.
While none of these specific reasons applied to a shift from January 12 to 15, they illustrated the kinds of logistical, financial, and administrative challenges that could have caused adjustments to the election schedule.
Looking at the other side of the parliament, Uganda Electoral Commission (EC) Chairperson, Justice Simon Byabakama, appealed to political parties to resolve internal disputes ahead of parliamentary nominations scheduled for Wednesday, October 22, and Thursday, October 23, 2025.
The EC has already been inundated with complaints from frustrated aspirants regarding the ongoing nomination process for other positions.
Key information from recent statements
- Warning against internal wrangles: Justice Byabakama had been direct in his appeal, noting the number of petitions the EC had received relating to internal party conflicts. He emphasized that the Commission is not an arena for resolving such disputes, which often lead to multiple candidates from the same party vying for a single position.
- Emphasis on legal channels: While confirming that the EC was mandated to hear and determine complaints, Byabakama urged political parties and aspirants to use the appropriate legal channels for their grievances instead of turning to social media.
- Finality of nomination deadline: In addition to resolving internal issues, Byabakama also warned that the EC will not extend the nomination deadline beyond the two designated days for parliamentary aspirants.
In a nutshell, his message of civility was clear as the chairperson consistently urged all stakeholders to remain civil and promote peace during the electoral process, advising against violence and hate speech.
