By Atukwatse Ritah,
KAMPALA,
The Electoral Commission has today officially opened the campaign period for the 2026 Parliamentary and Local Government Council elections, calling on all political actors and supporters to observe peace, respect, and discipline throughout the exercise.
Paul Bukenya, the Deputy Spokesperson of the Electoral Commission, announced that the campaign period for all nominated candidates had begun, and emphasized the need for adherence to the issued guidelines.
“We are calling on all political parties, candidates, including independents, their agents, supporters, and the general public to follow the guidelines that have been issued for the campaign period,” Bukenya said.
He noted that campaign meetings must be held strictly within the approved harmonized campaign program agreed upon by all candidates in each constituency or electoral area, and cleared by the respective returning officers in coordination with security authorities to ensure a peaceful and secure campaign environment.
According to the Commission, campaigns will run from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., while public campaign meetings will be conducted between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
“We are calling on candidates, their agents, and supporters to ensure that campaign meetings do not go beyond 6 p.m.,” Bukenya emphasized. “Equally important, we urge candidates not to use or publish any language or defamatory words that incite public disorder, hatred, or violence.”
He further appealed to all political actors to conduct themselves responsibly and peacefully, saying this would help the country achieve a smooth and credible campaign season.
This year’s election has attracted a large number of candidates across different levels of leadership. The Commission revealed that a total of 2,025 candidates were nominated to contest for the 353 constituencies of Directly-elected Members of Parliament, while 640 candidates will vie for the 146 District/City Woman Representative positions.
At the local government level, 521 candidates were successfully nominated to contest for the 146 City and District Chairperson positions.
In total, 83,597 candidates are campaigning for 45,505 elective positions, ranging from President to Sub-county Councillor, in what the Commission described as one of the most competitive elections in Uganda’s history.
The Electoral Commission reiterated its commitment to ensuring a free, fair, and peaceful election and urged all stakeholders to cooperate in upholding democratic values during the campaign period.
