Record 51 Aspirants Pick Nomination Forms as Uganda’s 2026 Presidential Race Kicks Off
Uganda’s road to the 2026 general elections has opened with an unprecedented rush, as 51 people collected nomination forms for the presidency on the first day.
Electoral Commission (EC) spokesperson Julius Mucunguzi revealed that the list so far includes six women and 46 men, with a majority being young contenders.
“This gives hope to the country that young people are interested in leadership and management of the country’s democracy,” Mucunguzi said.
The EC will continue issuing nomination documents until August 24. Aspirants are receiving supporter forms, nomination forms, and detailed nomination guidelines.
Mucunguzi explained the legal requirements.
“The supporter forms will enable aspirants to collect signatures from at least 100 registered voters in at least two-thirds of Uganda’s districts equivalent to 98 districts as required by electoral law. These supporters must be registered voters in the districts where they endorse a candidate.”
Nomination forms capture candidate details, while the guidelines spell out conditions for a valid nomination.
The EC has also released forms for other positions. Parliamentary aspirants, including special interest group candidates, can now download theirs from the EC website. District and city chairperson hopefuls will also access documents online, while local government councillor candidates will collect theirs from EC district offices.
Mucunguzi urged candidates to read the guidelines carefully to avoid disqualification, adding that parliamentary nominations have been moved from September to October 15 and 16, with all other dates unchanged.
With the process underway, Uganda’s political stage is already heating up, and the record-breaking turnout signals an intense race ahead.
