By The Electoral Commission (EC) has revised the nomination dates for presidential candidates in the 2025/2026 General Elections, moving them forward by more than a week.
Justice Simon Byabakama, the EC Chairperson, announced that presidential nominations will now take place on 23rd and 24th September 2025, instead of the earlier scheduled 2nd and 3rd October.
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“The adjustment was necessary to allow sufficient time for post-nomination activities such as processing nomination returns, preparing sample ballot papers, harmonising campaign programs, and signing the Memorandum of Undertaking by all candidates,” Byabakama stated.
He explained that maintaining the previous dates would have left an extremely short campaign period. Under the revised roadmap, presidential campaigns will start on 4th October 2025 and end on 12th January 2026, while polling will be held between 12th January and 9th February 2026.
The Commission also confirmed that Parliamentary nominations will be conducted on 16th and 17th September, while nominations for Local Government positions, including Special Interest Groups (SIGs), will run from 3rd–12th September.
Byabakama reminded aspirants of the legal requirement to present at least 100 supporters from two-thirds of all districts approximately 97 districts before nomination. He added that aspirants for President, MP, and District/City Chairperson must possess a Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) or its equivalent. Those with foreign qualifications must secure clearance from the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE).
He further clarified that certificates of equivalence obtained for previous elections will not be valid unless the aspirant has since acquired a higher qualification within Uganda.
The EC urged political parties and independent aspirants to observe the updated timelines and promised to publish detailed schedules for submitting supporter forms and nomination papers soon.
