The Electoral Commission has confirmed that eight candidates will appear on the ballot for Uganda’s 2026 presidential elections, following the conclusion of a two-day nomination exercise held at its offices in Lweza.
“We have managed to nominate eight presidential candidates. The process has ended and these eight candidates will appear on the Ballot Paper come 2026,” said Simon Byabakama Mugenyi, Chairperson of the Electoral Commission.
The nomination process, which ran over two days—Monday 23rd and Wednesday 24th September—saw a total of eight contenders officially cleared to run for the country’s top office.
On the first day, three candidates were nominated, including incumbent President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. He was cleared alongside two independent candidates: Elton Joseph Mabirizi and Robert Kasibante, president of the Peasants Party.
The final day of the exercise, Wednesday 24th September, saw five additional candidates join the presidential race. Among them was Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, representing the National Unity Platform (NUP).
His nomination drew massive public attention, with crowds lining the roads in support as he launched what he called a “protest vote” against decades of misrule.
Also nominated on the same day were Nathan Nandala Mafabi of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), Mugisha Muntu of the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT), Mubarak Munyagwa representing the Common Man’s Party, and Frank Bulira Kabinga from the Revolutionary People’s Party.
With the nomination phase now complete, the country enters the next stage of the electoral process.
All eight candidates are expected to unveil their manifestos in the coming weeks, as the campaign season officially begins.
The Electoral Commission has called on all aspirants and their supporters to maintain peace and conduct issue-based campaigns.
“In whatever we do, let us not disrupt the peace of this country,” warned Byabakama, emphasizing the need for candidates to say no to violence.
The official presidential campaign period is scheduled to kick off on 29th September 2025.
