The Electoral Commission (EC) unveils the official symbols for 27 registered political parties and 20 symbols designated for independent candidates, ahead of the 2026 General Elections.
The announcement marks a significant milestone in Uganda’s multiparty political framework, governed by the Political Parties and Organizations Act of 2005. This act followed the return to multiparty democracy after a historic referendum in 2005 and requires that each political party have a unique symbol for easy identification by voters on ballot papers.
Among the registered parties, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) will retain its recognizable yellow bus, while the National Unity Platform (NUP) continues with the umbrella. The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) is identified with a key, and the Democratic Party (DP) with a hoe. Other symbols include a light bulb for the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT), a peace sign for the Conservative Party (CP), and a tree for the Democratic Front (DF).
Newer or less-known parties have also been assigned distinct symbols. The Ecological Party of Uganda (EPU) is represented by a microphone, the National Peasants’ Party (NPP) by a pen, and the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) by a lantern. The Uganda Federal Alliance (UFA) has a giraffe as its symbol, while the Revolutionary People’s Party (RPP) is identified by two hands holding a map of Uganda.
Additionally, the EC has released a list of 20 symbols available to independent candidates who choose not to affiliate with any political party. These include everyday household or familiar items such as a ball, banana, boat, book, borehole, candle, car, chair, clock, coffee, cup, house, jerrycan, kettle, megaphone, pot, radio, saucepan, table, and television.
According to EC spokesperson Julius Mucunguzi, the independent candidate symbols will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis during the official nomination period.
“Candidates running as Independents during the 2026 General Elections will choose from the following Electoral Commission-approved symbols. These will be picked by the aspirants on a first come, first served basis during nominations,” Mucunguzi said.
The move is intended to ensure clarity and visual recognition on the ballots, particularly for voters who may not be literate but can identify their preferred candidate or party through the assigned symbol.
The release of these symbols comes as the Electoral Commission continues preparations for the 2026 General Elections, with voter education, party registration, and nomination processes ramping up across the country.