Electoral Commission sets September nomination window for local government council elections

The Electoral Commission (EC) of Uganda has officially announced a comprehensive three-week schedule in September 2025 for the nomination of candidates aspiring to contest in the upcoming Local Government Councils Elections, slated for 2026.

According to a press release issued by Justice Byabakama Mugenyi Simon, the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, the nomination exercise will commence on Wednesday, September 3rd, and conclude on Wednesday, September 24th, 2025.

Nominations will be conducted during weekdays, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on each of the appointed dates, at gazetted venues across the country.

The nomination process will be conducted in phases, addressing different levels of local governance:

District and City Leaders (September 3rd – 5th, 2025): Aspirants for District/City Chairpersons, Lord Mayor, and Councillors, including Special Interest Groups (SIGs), will submit their nominations during this initial three-day period. The nominations will take place at gazetted District/City Nomination Centers.

Municipality and City Division Leaders (September 8th – 10th, 2025): Candidates vying for Municipality/City Division Chairpersons and Councillors, including SIGs, are scheduled to be nominated during this window. These nominations will also occur at gazetted District/City Nomination Centers.

Lower Local Government Leaders (September 11th – 24th, 2025): The extended period will cover nominations for two distinct categories:

Municipal Division Chairpersons and Councillors: Including SIGs, these nominations will be held at gazetted District/City Nomination Centers.

Sub County and Town Chairpersons and Councillors: Including SIGs, these nominations will take place at gazetted County Nomination Centers.

The Electoral Commission has strongly advised all persons aspiring to contest in the Local Government Councils Elections to meticulously familiarize themselves with the specific requirements for nomination for each elective position.

These requirements are detailed in guidelines issued by the Commission.

Aspirants can obtain physical copies of the nomination forms and the aforementioned guidelines from the District Electoral Commission offices located in each district across Uganda.

Additionally, soft copies of both the forms and guidelines are readily available for download from the Electoral Commission’s official website, www.ec.or.ug.

This announcement marks a crucial step in the electoral calendar, paving the way for the democratic selection of leaders at various local government levels across Uganda in 2026, consistent with the EC’s mandate to ensure regular, free, and fair elections.