EC reschedules polling in affected local government areas to 17th February

The Electoral Commission (EC) has rescheduled polling for Local Government Council elections in electoral areas where voting was not conducted or concluded due to unforeseen circumstances.

In a press release issued on Monday, the EC said the affected polls, which had been slated for Wednesday, February 4, 2026, will now take place on Tuesday, February 17, 2026.

According to the Commission, the elections will be held to fill vacant positions at the City/District, Municipality/City Division, and Sub-county/Town/Municipal Division levels, as applicable. These include Chairpersons, Directly Elected Councillors, Women Councillors, and Councillors representing Special Interest Groups; namely youths, older persons, workers and persons with disabilities (PWDs).

Polling will be conducted at all designated polling stations within the affected electoral areas and, where applicable, at venues for the respective electoral colleges. Voting will run from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., after which counting and declaration of results will follow.

The EC, however, clarified that February 4, 2026, remains the official polling day under the General Elections Roadmap for elections of Chairpersons, Directly Elected Councillors and Women Councillors at Sub-county, Town Council and Municipal Division levels across the country. Voting on that date will be by universal adult suffrage and will take place nationwide from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

EC Chairperson Justice Byabakama Mugenyi Simon urged all stakeholders to observe the law and participate peacefully in the electoral process.

“The Electoral Commission calls upon political parties, candidates, voters and the general public to comply with the electoral laws and guidelines to ensure a peaceful and orderly exercise,” the statement read.

The rescheduling affects only those areas where polling was disrupted or incomplete, the Commission emphasized.