Justice Simon Byabakama Mugenyi, Chairperson, Electoral Commission
The Electoral Commission (EC) has updated Ugandans on the progress of implementation of activities under the Roadmap for 2026 General Elections, revealing, some of the basic statistics ahead of the polls.
Addressing the press on Wednesday at EC offices in Kampala, Justice Simon Byabakama Mugenyi, Chairperson, Electoral Commission, revealed that as of 13th November 2025, Uganda had 146 districts, 312 Counties, 353 Constituencies, 2,191 Sub Counties/Towns/Municipal Divisions, 10,717 Parishes, 71,214 Villages, 50,739 Polling Stations and 21,681,491 Registered Voters.
“Out of the 21,681,491 (twenty-one million six hundred and eighty-one thousand four hundred and ninety-one) voters, the number of male voters is 10,334,362 (ten million three hundred and thirty-four thousand three hundred and sixty-two). This makes 47 percent, while the number of female voters is 11,347,129 (eleven million three hundred and forty-seven thousand one hundred and twenty-nine) translating into 53 percent of registered voters,” Byabakama said.
The Commission has urged all the registered voters to turn up to exercise their right to vote and chose their leaders at all levels on the polling days at each respective elective position.
According to Byabakama, the Electoral Commission will shortly commence issuance of Voter Location Slips (VLS) to the voters across the country to enable them conveniently locate their respective polling stations on polling day.
“We are directing EC staff, especially the Parish Supervisors, under the supervision of Sub county supervisors and District Election Administrators to make sure that every voter gets his or her Voter Location Slip,” Byabakama said.
Nominated Candidates for the 2026 General Elections
Following the conclusion of the nominations, EC says, a total of 83,597 candidates were nominated to contest for the 45,505 elective positions (from President to Sub County Councillor).
The nominated candidates were flagged off to conduct campaigns at all level following the guidelines issued by the Commission.
However, in accordance with Section 26 of the Parliamentary Elections Act, Cap 177, Byabakama says, the Electoral Commission has appointed Thursday 27th and Friday 28th November 2025, as the dates for conducting fresh nomination in the various electoral areas across the country, where some candidates passed away.
Byabakama clarified that the candidates who were previously duly nominated to contest in the affected elective positions at the respective Local Government Councils, shall not be required to undergo nomination again.
“Aspiring candidates are advised to obtain nomination forms and guidelines for the respective Local Government Council elective position from their District Electoral Commission offices, or obtain soft copies of the forms and guidelines from the Electoral Commission website: www.ec.or.ug,” he said.
Polling Dates for General Elections
Following the conclusion of nomination at all levels, the Commission appointed the polling dates for the various elective positions under the 2026 General Elections. Byabakama reminded Ugandans that elections of the President and Members of Parliament (Directly-elected MP and District Woman Representative to Parliament) shall take place on 15th January 2026, while National Conference for Election of Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) Representatives to Parliament shall take place on 19th January 2026.
Election of Councillors representing Special Interest Groups (Youths; Older Persons and PWDs) at Sub County/Town/Municipal Division shall also take place on 19th January 2026.
Election of Councillors representing Special Interest Groups (Youths; Older Persons and PWDs) at Municipality/City Division shall take place on 20th January 2026, while National Conference for Election of Workers Representatives to Parliament shall be held on 21st January 2026.
According to EC, Elections of District Local Government Councils: District/City Chairpersons, Lord Mayor, Mayors, and Councillors, shall be held on 22nd January 2026, while Elections of Municipality/City Division Chairpersons and Councillors shall take place on 27th January 2026.
On the other hand, National Conference for Election of National Female Youth Representative to Parliament shall be held on 28th January 2026 and the National Conference for Election of National Female Older Persons Representative to Parliament shall also be held on 28th January 2026.
According to EC, Army Council Meeting for Election of UPDF Representatives to Parliament shall also be held on 28th January 2026, while Election of Councillors representing Special Interest Groups (Youths; Older Persons and PWDs) at District/City shall be held on 29th January 2026.
EC further says Regional Conference for Election of Older Persons Representatives to Parliament shall be held on 2nd February 2026, while Elections of Sub County/Town/Municipal Division Chairpersons and Councillors shall take place on 4th February 2026.
Finally, Regional Conferences for Election of Regional Youths Representatives to Parliament shall be held on 6th February 2026.
“We call upon all stakeholders—political parties, candidates, observers, security agencies, civil society, and the electorate—to take note of the respective polling dates and prepare accordingly to participate meaningfully in the elections,” Byabakama said.
Management of Petitions Arising out of the Nomination Exercise
According to Byabakama, the Commission received several petitions arising from the recently concluded nomination exercise.
“In total, the Commission received about 300 petitions and complaints, mostly arising out of the nomination exercise at local government, parliamentary and presidential levels,” he said.
He added that each petition has been carefully reviewed and determined based on: the law, the Commission’s constitutional mandate, and the evidence and merit of each case.
“I would like to state that while the number of 300 may appear high, taken out of the total number of over 83,597 nominated candidates for the 45,505 elective positions (from President to Sub County Councillor), it becomes clear that the majority of the nominations were undertaken and concluded without any incidents,” he said, adding: “Nonetheless, the Commission remains committed to ensuring fair, just, and timely resolution of all matters submitted before it.
Production of Ballot Papers for the 2026 General Elections
Byabakama said the Electoral Commission procured the services of reputable international and local printing firms to produce the ballot papers for the 2026 General Elections.
These include Al Ghurair Printing & Publishing LLC, Dubai UAE for Presidential, Directly-elected Member of Parliament, District Woman Representatives to Parliament, District/City Chairpersons, District/City Directly-elected Councillors and District/City Woman Councillors
UniPrint (SA), Durban, South Africa was procured for Sub County/Town/Municipal Division Chairpersons, while Inform Lykos (Hellos), Athens, Greece was contracted for Sub-County/Town/Municipal Division Directly-elected Councillors; Sub-County/Town/Municipal Division Woman Councillors.
Sintel Security, Nairobi, Kenya was procured for Councillors representing Special Interest Groups at the District; City; Municipality; Sub County; Town; Municipal Division; Local Governments, while Picfare Industries Ltd, Kampala Uganda, was contracted for Municipality/City Division Chairpersons and Women Councillors. The EC also procured Graphics Systems Ltd., Kampala, Uganda, for Municipality/City Division Directly-Elected Councillors.
According to Byabakama, the production of ballot papers for the various elective positions is currently underway and progressing well.
“The Commission advises Political Parties contesting in the Presidential Elections to submit the names of their official agents who will be accredited to witness the delivery of the ballot boxes at the airport, in the case of ballot papers printed out of the country, and delivery at our warehouses, in the case of ballot papers and other election materials printed within the country,” Byabakama said, adding: “This measure is intended to ensure transparency and stakeholder confidence in the handling of election materials.”
Update on Technology to be Deployed During Polling for the 2026 Elections
The Electoral Commission has procured 109,142 Biometric Voter Verification Kits (BVVK) which will be deployed for the 2025/2026 General Elections, as a measure aimed at improving the management and conduct of elections through authentication of voter identity.
“Out of these, 60,000 kits have so far been delivered and the balance of 49,142 kits is expected at the end of this month, November 2025,” Byabakama said, adding that the BVVK basically uses fingerprints and facial recognition to match voter details which will help the Presiding Officer to confirm the identity of the voter as being the one on the Voters Register of that particular polling station.
“The system will enable the Commission to ensure that only registered persons vote during the elections and that such persons (voters) do not vote more than once for the same election, hence it will help the Commission achieve the One-Man/Woman-One Vote principle. Please note that the BVVK was first deployed in the 2016 General Elections; it was improved and used again in the 2021 General Elections. The BVVK has now been further upgraded for the 2026 General Elections. These devices will be deployed to all the 50,739 polling stations to enhance the credibility of the electoral process,” he said, adding: “The Commission is currently conducting the exercise for recruitment of 50,739 persons to operate the BVVK machines at each polling station. The Commission is further conducting recruitment of 1,050 persons who will be trainers for the operators.”
Byabakama noted that some candidates are organising processions that violate traffic rules and disrupt trade order in the affected areas, and which has sometimes resulted in avoidable confrontation with law enforcement.
He said some candidates are making impromptu stops and addressing the public in such non-scheduled locations, while others are using defamatory words, and language which incites disorder, hatred, threatens violence. He also decried tearing, removing or defacing candidates’ posters and banners.
“We strongly condemn acts of violence, hooliganism, and intolerance that have been reported in some areas across the country. We strongly appeal to all candidates, their agents, supporters, and the general public to adhere to lawful and peaceful campaign conduct,” he said, adding: “The Commission has established mechanism for receiving and hearing and determining complaints and issues emerging during the campaigns. The Commission has so far held two scheduled meetings with agents of presidential candidates and security to handle and resolve issues of concern during the campaigns.”
