The Electoral Commission has announced changes to the election roadmap for the 2025/2026 general elections.
Justice Simon Byabakama, the Chairman of the Commission, while addressing journalists at the EC headquarters in Kampala on Thursday, said that the original period for the nomination of all local government elective positions was scheduled on the same days.
He added that the roadmap is not static and is subject to review by the Commission as and when necessary. Initially, the original schedule indicated that the nomination of all local government elective positions was supposed to take place between 2nd and 12th September 2025.
However, Byabakama stated that this was confusing because it was too omnibus.
As a result, the EC Chairman said that the Commission decided to adjust the dates accordingly, categorizing them by position.
Now, the Commission has designated 11th August as the start date for individuals vying for the presidential seat to begin collecting nomination forms and forms for collecting supporters’ signatures.
These supporter forms are to be used by presidential aspirants to collect signatures from no fewer than 100 registered voters from at least two-thirds of the districts in the 98 districts across the country.
The EC Chairman advised those contesting for the presidency to submit the forms at least two weeks before the nomination dates set for 23rd to 24th September this year to allow the Commission time to verify the authenticity of the 100 names collected from each district, emphasizing that all signatories must be registered voters.
Presidential aspirants will collect the forms physically themselves or may send agents, provided they have an acknowledgment letter from the party authorities. The completed forms must be submitted by 10th September at the latest.
Byabakama also mentioned that the nomination of all elective local government positions, including those for special interest groups which was initially scheduled to occur from 3rd to 12th September has now been broken down and rescheduled by category.
According to Byabakama, nominations for district or city chairpersons, including lord mayors and councilors for the city or district, will be conducted from 3rd to 5th September this year at the offices of the district or city returning officers.
Nominations for municipality or city division chairpersons and councilors will take place from 8th to 10th September at the offices of the city returning officers.
Those vying for the positions of chairpersons and councilors at sub-county, towns, or municipal divisions will be nominated from 11th to 24th September at the county headquarters.
Nomination forms and guidelines for the district, municipal, and sub-county councilor elections will be available for collection from the respective district or city Electoral Commission offices starting 11th August.
Nomination forms for district chairpersons or city mayors can be accessed by downloading them from the Electoral Commission website.
Byabakama also stated that the nomination of candidates for parliamentary positions and special interest groups vying for Parliament, including women Members of Parliament, will take place from 15th to 16th October, while nomination for other special interest groups will occur from 16th to 17th September 2025, as earlier communicated.
This exercise will be carried out at the respective district or city EC returning offices, and the forms are to be downloaded from the Electoral Commission website.