In a surprising shift that’s sure to stir political waters, the Electoral Commission has announced a sudden change to the 2025/2026 presidential nomination calendar—moving the key dates earlier by nearly two weeks.
What was originally a straightforward nomination set for October 2nd and 3rd has now been brought forward to September 23rd and 24th, 2025. The change, according to Commission Chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama, is all about logistics. But to many observers, it raises eyebrows.
Byabakama claims the decision was prompted by a need to accommodate several critical post-nomination activities: capturing nomination returns, printing ballot samples, coordinating campaign schedules, and signing crucial agreements with candidates.
“If we were to maintain the earlier nomination dates, these post-nomination processes would drastically reduce the period available for the campaigns,” he explained.
The move could affect how prepared candidates—especially independents and newcomers—are by nomination time. Moving the date up could compress their timelines and create logistical hurdles for those not backed by large party machinery.
Other nomination events remain tightly packed: Local Government & Special Interest Groups, 3rd–12th September; Parliamentary Candidates, 16th–17th September.
Campaigns for the presidency are now slated to run from 4th October 2025 to 12th January 2026, with parliamentary campaigns beginning even earlier, on 23rd September—a day before presidential nominations.
Presidential hopefuls still face the same daunting requirement: secure signatures from at least 100 registered voters in two-thirds of Uganda’s districts—about 97 in total. A task easier said than done under a tight schedule.
Byabakama says the Commission will soon announce timelines for collecting and submitting these supporter signatures. Also pending: the official release of nomination forms and guidelines for parliamentary and local government candidates.
With the electoral clock ticking faster than expected, the pressure is now on potential candidates to mobilize—and on voters to stay informed.
