As the 2026 elections knocks the door, political parties are calling for consensus building and urging their members not to run on independent tickets. The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) was the first to issue a directive seeking to bar candidates who lose in the forthcoming party primaries from contesting as independents in national elections. Opposition political parties such as the NUP, FDC, PFF have also followed the suit, and are in discussions with different candidates contesting for the same position one way of ensuring internal party democracy, cohesion and avoiding internal divisive contests.
This growing trend of harmonization has extended to the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) where the party has cautioned its members against running as independent candidates in the 2026 general elections.
Muzeyi Faizo, the Head of Media and Communications at UPC says that contesting as an independent candidate contravenes Article 3 Section 6(1&2) of the UPC party constitution.
“Any member who goes or acts against the party constitution, for instance standing against a newly nominated UPC flag bearer violates Article 3, section 6 (1&2) of the constitution, and therefore, ceases immediately to be a member of UPC,” Muzeyi said.
Muzeyi emphasized that the penalty extends to any member who funds political activities of any opponent contesting against a nominated UPC candidate, noting that the party will not tolerate desperation of anyone that goes against its constitution.
“So, the constitution awaits you and it will give you justice accordingly,” he emphasized.
Muzeyi was addressing journalists on the revised parry electoral roadmap at their headquarters at Uganda House Kampala on Wednesday.
During the Press Briefing, he disclosed that the party is in final stages of concluding the exercise of renewing party structures which includes elections of executive committees from village to constituency levels in the sub-regions of Lango, Acholi, Teso, Sebei, West Nile, Bugisu, and Karamoja, which commenced on June 12. He said that the exercise will be extended to other regions such as Bukeddi, Busoga, Greater Mukono, Greater Kampala, Greater Luwero, Greater Masaka, Bunyoro, Rwenzori, Ankole and Kigezi, starting 7th to 13th July, 2025.
UPC will go onto polls for District / City executives and nomination of presidential candidates by district conferences on July 28. The party Electoral Commission headed by Hajji Mahmoud Kazimbaraine is expected to results and declare the party president presidential candidate at party headquarters on July 30.
“The successful presidential flag bearer candidate should win at least one third of all districts in Uganda with each district having one vote,” Muzeyi explained. “The party shall hold its Annual Delegates Conference, called on notice by the party President at a date and designated place to be announced in August.”
Expression of interest and Nomination of candidates, and conducting of party primaries for local governments will according to the party kick start on July 10 and close on August 11, while expression of interest, nomination of candidates and internal primaries (where applicable) will be conducted between 10th and 16th August, 2025.
However, Muzeyi emphasized the party’s move to engage candidates on consensus building.
