The Electoral Commission (EC) has officially launched the roadmap for the upcoming 2026 general elections, along with a comprehensive strategic plan spanning the years 2022/2023 to 2026/2027.
The launch event, held at Hotel Africana this morning, saw the EC Chairperson, Justice Simon Byabakama Mugenyi, shed light on the core objectives underpinning these plans.
The primary aims encompass elevating operational efficiency, fostering greater stakeholder awareness and participation, and building upon the positive reforms and innovations introduced in the previous general elections.
Furthermore, the strategic plans lay emphasis on bolstering the organisational framework and augmenting staff capacity, heralding a pivotal phase of growth for the commission.
Byabakama underscored the commission’s proactive approach by disclosing the outcome of post-election evaluation workshops conducted nationwide following the 2020/2021 general election. These workshops facilitated candid input from diverse stakeholders, shedding light on various aspects of the electoral process and its administration.
Byabakama acknowledged the support of the Ugandan populace during the 2020/2021 general election, a period fraught with the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic.
He appealed to both the cabinet and parliament to expedite the timely amendment and enactment of electoral laws. He further implored for the swift approval of new administrative units, urging the government to prioritize these measures to maintain the stability of the electoral program and budget.
Meanwhile, the EC’s secretary, Leonard Mulekwah, has put forward a timeline for the comprehensive update of the national voters’ register by January 2025. He also hopes the demarcation of electoral areas will be done by July 2024.
He shared that the nomination of presidential candidates is slated to transpire between October 2nd and 3rd, 2025.
The nomination process for candidates vying for Parliament is set to occur on the 16th and 17th of September, 2025.
Candidates seeking positions in Local Governments, including Special Interest Groups (SIGs), will have their chance to nominate themselves from the 3rd to the 12th of September, 2025.
As the nation gears up for a pivotal period, the polling phase for the Presidential, Parliamentary, and Local Government Councils, encompassing SIGs, will span from the 12th of January to the 12th of February, 2026.