EC, stakeholders step up final preparations for 2026 general elections

5 December 2025, 9:03 am

By Ronald Ssemagonja

The Electoral Commission on yesterday held a comprehensive briefing for Government Communication Officers and members of the media at Hotel Africana, outlining the final stages of preparation for the 2026 General Elections.

During the meeting, officials reported progress on the electoral roadmap and emphasized the need for accurate and timely information sharing ahead of polling day. Concerns were raised over the rise of commercialised politics, misinformation, disinformation and hate speech, particularly on online platforms.

Participants were also taken through a presentation and live demonstration of the Biometric Voter Verification Kit (BVVK), a key technology that will facilitate the One Man, One Vote principle during the elections. Experts from the Commission showcased how the machines operate to ensure transparency and voter confidence.

The Presidential and Parliamentary elections are scheduled for 15th January 2026.

Later in the day, at a joint press conference held at the Sheraton Kampala Hotel, Electoral Commission spokesperson Julius Mucunguzi appealed to Ugandans to respect the law as the country heads into the election period. The event, organised by the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC), brought together major stakeholders including the Police, the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda, and the Uganda Communications Commission.

UHRC Chairperson Mariam Wangadya called on all actors to uphold peace and protect the rights of every Ugandan.
“The state must at all times guarantee that every eligible Ugandan can register and vote without hindrance, including persons with disabilities and those from vulnerable and marginalized communities,” she said. “Even children, though they do not vote, must be protected from the indirect harms of electoral tension and disorder. We urge all people to maintain peace.”

All stakeholders pledged to work together to ensure a peaceful, orderly election and urged the public to do the same.

Meanwhile, at the Ministry of Internal Affairs headquarters in Kampala, the Undersecretary Dorothy Nsereko, representing the Permanent Secretary, launched the 2025 Health Camp under the theme Building a Sustainable HIV/AIDS Response to End AIDS as a Public Health Threat.

The two-day camp will provide free health services to the public, including cancer screening, dental check-ups, Hepatitis B testing, blood donation, eye examinations, voluntary counseling and diabetes checks. The Ministry also announced it will conduct weekly physical exercise sessions, four days a week for staff and their immediate family members.

According to officials, the health camp aims to encourage preventive health practices and create awareness to reduce avoidable diseases in the population.