The Electoral Commission of Uganda has officially announced the nomination period for candidates who wish to contest in the Local Government Councils Elections of 2026.
According to the press release dated 29th August 2025, the nomination exercise will take place from 3rd September to 24th September 2025. This period has been set aside for aspiring leaders at different levels of local government to formally submit their candidacies.
The Commission explained that the nomination exercise will be conducted according to the various levels of the Local Government Councils.
The exercise will be held at gazetted nomination centers across the country, starting at 9:00 a.m. and ending at 5:00 p.m. on weekdays. This is meant to give ample time and opportunity for all aspirants to prepare and present their documents.
The program will begin with the nomination of candidates for District and City Chairpersons, Lord Mayor, and Councilors, including Special Interest Groups (SIGs), from 3rd to 5th September 2025. This will be followed by the nomination of candidates for Municipality and City Division Chairpersons and Councilors between 8th and 10th September 2025.
From 11th to 24th September 2025, the focus will shift to candidates for Municipal Division Chairpersons and Councilors, including SIGs, as well as Sub-County and Town Chairpersons and Councilors, also including SIGs. These nominations will be conducted at the gazetted District, City, and County nomination centers.
The Electoral Commission has encouraged all individuals aspiring to contest in the upcoming elections to carefully read and understand the requirements for nomination. The guidelines, which clearly outline what is expected of each candidate, can be obtained from Electoral Commission offices in all districts or accessed online via the Commission’s official website: www.ec.or.ug.
The Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Justice Byabakama Mugenyi Simon, reminded the public that this process is an important step in preparing for free and fair elections. He emphasized that aspirants should collect the necessary forms in good time and ensure that they comply with all requirements.
With the nomination period set, attention now turns to the aspirants and political parties who are expected to field their candidates. The period leading up to the 2026 elections promises to be lively as Ugandans prepare to choose their leaders at the local level.
