EC Publishes List of Recognized Political Parties Ahead of 2026 Elections
The Electoral Commission (EC) has released the updated register of political parties legally cleared to operate in Uganda, confirming 27 entities that will be eligible to take part in the 2026 general elections.
According to the Commission, the publication was done in line with the Political Parties and Organisations Act, which requires all political groups to maintain functional offices, leadership structures, and official contact details.
“The Commission wishes to notify the public that only political parties listed in the updated register are legally recognized and authorized to conduct political activities in Uganda,” the EC said in a statement, adding that the move is aimed at ensuring transparency and accountability ahead of the polls.
The list features Uganda’s political heavyweights such as the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), the National Unity Platform (NUP), Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), Democratic Party (DP), and Uganda People’s Congress (UPC). Other parties include Justice Forum (JEEMA), Alliance for National Transformation (ANT), and the National Economic Empowerment Dialogue (NEED), formerly the People’s United Movement.
Alongside these established players, the EC register also features smaller or newly rebranded groups like the Republican Women and Youth Party (RWYP), Forum for Integrity in Leadership (FIL), Liberal Democratic Transparency (LDT), and the Democratic Front, formerly Green Partisan Party (GPP).
The EC emphasized that recognition gives these parties the legal mandate to conduct political mobilization and field candidates in the upcoming elections.
“As we approach the 2026 general elections, the Commission calls upon political parties to comply with the law and conduct their activities peacefully, responsibly, and within the established legal framework,” the statement read.
With the release of the updated register, Uganda’s political landscape is now officially set for the road to 2026, where both established and emerging parties will seek to win voter support.
