Ugandans will go to the polls between January 12 and February 9, 2026, to elect leaders across all levels of government, including the presidency, Parliament, and Local Government Councils.
The timelines were confirmed by Electoral Commission Chairperson, Justice Simon Mugenyi Byabakama, in a July 2024 press release.
The announcement marked a critical milestone in the country’s electoral roadmap, as the Electoral Commission intensifies preparations for one of the most consequential election cycles in recent memory.
By Article 61(2) of the Constitution, the electoral calendar has been meticulously laid out to guide candidates and voters ahead of the 2025/2026 General Elections.
Nomination of presidential candidates has been scheduled for October 2 and 3, 2025, while parliamentary aspirants will present their papers for verification and acceptance from September 16 to 17, 2025. The roadmap also outlines critical compliance deadlines for public servants who wish to join elective politics.
Public officers intending to vie for parliamentary seats are required to resign by June 13, 2025, in line with constitutional provisions that bar civil servants from engaging in partisan politics while still in office. Those seeking the presidency must vacate public service by October 1, 2025.
Additionally, all presidential aspirants must submit verified academic credentials by August 1, 2025, a requirement that the Commission says will be strictly enforced to uphold the integrity of the nomination process.
As of now, five individuals have formally expressed their interest in contesting for the presidency, although the Electoral Commission has not yet released the full list of verified aspirants.
George William Magera
George William Magera, running for the first time, is the President of the People’s Progressive Party-Uganda.
A graduate of Uganda Christian University with a Bachelor of Logistics Management (2018), Magera is currently pursuing a Master of International Policy and Practice with a concentration in Security.
Magera has served as the president of the Progressive Party since 2018 and co-founded an NGO in 2010 that focuses on addressing health, poverty, and education challenges in Uganda.
Apostle Henry Byamukama
Apostle Henry Byamukama previously intended to run in the 2021 elections but was unsuccessful.
He is the founder of several initiatives, including Faith Life Ministries, which spearheaded a donation drive to assist communities affected by the Kiteezi landfill collapse.
Byamukama also serves as President of Encounter Jesus Worldwide Ministries, Secretary-General of the Labour Party (Uganda’s oldest political party), and CEO of Breakthrough Media (BTM TV). He is married to Lillian Mirembe Byamukama, and the couple has two children.
Muhammad Nsereko
Muhammad Nsereko, an independent Member of Parliament and lawyer, has represented Kampala Central Division since 2011.
Born on August 25, 1981, Nsereko attended Buganda Road Primary School, Kibuli Secondary School, and Kawempe Muslim Secondary School.
He earned a Diploma in Journalism from the Indian Institute of Business and Management Studies in 2005 and a Bachelor of Laws from Makerere University in 2006. He also holds a Diploma in Legal Practice from the Law Development Centre (2007).
Nsereko has been a partner at Nsereko, Mukalazi, and Company Advocates since 2007 and previously chaired the Kampala Central Land Committee (2006–2010).
Bobi Wine
Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, was born on February 12, 1982, at Nkozi Hospital, Uganda.
He entered politics in April 2017, winning the Kyadondo County East by-election through a grassroots campaign.
On July 24, 2019, Bobi Wine announced his intention to run for president in the 2021 general elections, where his candidacy resonated with many Ugandans.
Yoweri Kaguta Museveni
Yoweri Kaguta Museveni Tibuhaburwa, born on September 15, 1944, has been the President of Uganda since 1986.
Museveni has dominated Uganda’s political landscape for decades, and his leadership remains a significant topic of discussion as the nation heads towards the 2026 elections.
Noah Denis Mubiru
Noah Denis Mubiru is a 57-year-old Musoga born and raised in Mayuge District. He is an author and businessman.
He holds several qualifications. He has a Diploma in Secondary Education from Jambo Institute of Education (now Jambo University).
He also holds a Diploma in Human Resource Management and another in Business Entrepreneurship and Management from Harrison College in Ireland.
He is a graduate of Makerere University with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences, where he majored in Economics and Social Administration.
Joseph Kabuleta
Joseph Kizza Kabuleta (born March 17, 1972) is a Ugandan journalist, sports analyst, pastor, and politician who contested for the office of the president of Uganda in the January 14, 2021, presidential poll as an independent candidate.
Kabuleta was born in Nairobi, Kenya, to Margaret and John Kabuleta as the ninth of 12 children.
His father is of the Munyoro tribe from Hoima, Uganda, and his mother is a Kenyan belonging to the Kikuyu tribe.
Kabuleta was raised in Rubaga, Kampala, before his family moved to his father’s hometown of Hoima, Uganda.
He attended Namilyango Junior School and Namilyango College for his O and A-Level certificates.
He enrolled for a diploma in Civil Engineering at Mbale Technical College. After graduating from the diploma programme, he joined The Crusader newspaper as a sports writer in 1997, rising to the position of sports editor in 1998.
As he progressed in his journalism career, he enrolled at Makerere University, where he obtained a degree in Mass Communication.
Following the closure of The Crusader, he joined The New Vision as a reporter and later became a columnist.
We will continue to update this list as more candidates declare their interest…
