The independent Electoral Commission (EC) has announced the polling dates for Uganda’s 2026 Presidential, Parliamentary and Local Government Councils elections calendar stretching from mid-January to early February 2026.
In a press release dated December 17, 2025, EC Chairperson Justice Byabakama Mugenyi Simon said the dates were appointed in line with Article 61(2) of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, which mandates the Commission to organise, conduct and supervise elections.
According to the roadmap, polling for the President and Members of Parliament — including directly elected MPs and District Woman Representatives — will take place on January 15, 2026. This will be followed by the National Conference for the election of Workers’ Representatives to Parliament on January 19.
Elections for councillors representing Special Interest Groups (SIGs), including youths, older persons, workers and persons with disabilities (PWDs), will begin on January 20 at the municipality and city division level. District Local Government elections for district and city chairpersons, lord mayor, mayors and councillors are scheduled for January 22, while municipality and city division chairpersons and councillors will be elected on January 27.
The EC has also set aside January 28 for a series of special conferences, including regional youth conferences to elect youth representatives to Parliament, the national conference to elect the national female older persons’ representative, and the UPDF Army Council meeting to elect army representatives to Parliament.
Further SIG elections will continue on January 29 and 30, covering district-level and sub-county, town and municipal division councillors. The electoral process will then move into February, with the regional conference for older persons’ representatives to Parliament on February 2, followed by the national conference for the election of PWD representatives on February 3.
Elections for sub-county, town and municipal division chairpersons and councillors are scheduled for February 4, while the final activity on the calendar will be the national conference for the election of the national female youth representative to Parliament on February 6, 2026.
The Electoral Commission has urged all candidates, their agents, supporters, election observers and the general public to observe the stipulated dates and fully comply with the electoral guidelines for each elective position.
“These elections are a critical pillar of Uganda’s democracy, and the Commission calls upon all stakeholders to participate peacefully and responsibly to ensure free, fair and credible elections,” Justice Byabakama said.
The Electoral Commission was set up under Article 60 of the 1995 Constitution of The Republic of Uganda. It consists of the Chairman, Deputy Chairperson and five other members appointed by the President with the approval of Parliament and a Secretariat headed by the Secretary.
