BREAKING NEWS!! 220 Ugandans Pick Nomination Forms To Run For Presidency

Out of the 220 individuals who collected presidential nomination forms in August, only 20 have submitted supporters’ signatures to the Electoral Commission (EC) for verification ahead of the 2026 general elections. This reflects a notable gap between initial interest and formal compliance with nomination requirements.

EC spokesperson Julius Mucunguzi confirmed that of the 20 submissions, nine were from political party candidates and 11 from independents. He explained that the verification process is rigorous, ensuring each supporter is a registered voter, a Ugandan citizen, and has endorsed only one aspirant.

Mucunguzi noted that some submissions contained errors, including deliberately falsified National Identification Numbers (NINs). “The EC insists on thorough verification. Certificates of compliance will only be issued once every detail is confirmed,” he added.

Among political parties, the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) submitted 2.2 million signatures backing President Yoweri Museveni. The National Unity Platform (NUP) also submitted signatures for its leader, Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine. NUP Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya said the party had exceeded the legal threshold. The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) presented over one million signatures supporting Nathan Nandala Mafabi.

Other parties that successfully submitted endorsements include the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC), the Common Man’s Party, the Uganda People’s Movement, the Revolutionary People’s Party, the Conservative Party, the National Peasants Party (NPP), and Joseph Kabuleta’s National Economic Empowerment Dialogue (NEED).

The Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) was turned away after failing to meet the legal requirement of at least 100 signatures from 98 districts, demonstrating the EC’s strict adherence to the rules.

Independent candidates in the race include John Katumba, who gained prominence in 2021, Victoria University law student Alvin Mivule, Francis Ntezibyayo, and pastor Henry Byabakama Katabazi. Katumba faced early setbacks when he arrived at the EC late at night without a proper cover letter, leading officials to reject his submission.

Some independent aspirants expressed frustration with the process. David Magezi accused the commission of delays despite submitting his signatures early. The EC maintained that compliance with the law is mandatory, warning that any district falling short of 100 signatures would result in automatic disqualification.

Presidential nominations are scheduled for September 23–24. Only aspirants who meet all legal requirements and pass the verification process will be cleared to appear on the 2026 ballot.

The early stages of the nomination process highlight both the competitiveness of the upcoming elections and the EC’s strict enforcement of rules to ensure that only qualified candidates are included in the race.