By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
KAMPALA
The Electoral Commission (EC) has cautioned Ugandans picking nomination forms for the 2026 presidential race against referring to themselves as candidates before formal nomination.
“Picking these forms does not make one a candidate. It simply means that the person is aspiring to be one,” EC spokesperson Julius Mucunguzi said on Tuesday. “A candidate for the position of president, or any other position, is one who has been successfully nominated after meeting all requirements.”
According to the EC, to qualify for presidency, aspirants must collect at least 100 signatures from two-thirds of Uganda’s districts (98 in total) amounting to 9,800 supporters countrywide. Other requirements include paying a non-refundable nomination fee of UGX20m and possessing at least a Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (Senior Six) or its equivalent.
Mucunguzi said the exercise, which began on Monday, is progressing well. By 2:00pm on day two, the commission had issued 78 sets of nomination and supporter forms. The process closes on September 24, 2025.
Additionally, the EC has dismissed claims that the presidential seat had been “downgraded” because of the number and appearance of those picking forms, including some young people in casual attire. “The law is clear: any Ugandan aged 18 and above, of adult suffrage, who meets the requirements, is free to pick forms,” Mucunguzi said.
He noted that the true test of seriousness would come at nomination, when aspirants must present all 9,800 supporter signatures, pay the sh20m fee, and meet academic and citizenship requirements. “If they meet all requirements, nothing in the law will stop them from being nominated,” he added.
Among those who picked the forms today are Ugandan Journalist Peter Mutebi from Lwengo district, City Sweets Vendor and unemployed Telecommunication Engineer Jolivious Akankwatsa from Kajara Ntungamo, among others.
By Press time, the exercise was still ongoing.
