Only 8 candidates duly nominated as presidential race for 2026 general elections kicks off
Presided over by Justice Byabakama Mugenyi Simon, Chairperson of the Electoral Commission and Returning Officer for Presidential Nominations, the rigorous process culminated in the final nomination of Bulira Frank Kabinga of the Revolutionary Peoples Party (RPP) late on Wednesday.
The Electoral Commission (EC) has concluded the Presidential Nominations for the 2025/2026 General Elections, officially clearing eight aspirants to contest the nation’s highest office. The two-day exercise, held on September 23rd and 24th, 2025, at the EC grounds in Lweza – Lubowa, Wakiso District, saw all candidates fulfill the stringent requirements of the Presidential Elections Act, Cap 179.
Presided over by Justice Byabakama Mugenyi Simon, Chairperson of the Electoral Commission and Returning Officer for Presidential Nominations, the rigorous process culminated in the final nomination of Bulira Frank Kabinga of the Revolutionary Peoples Party (RPP) late on Wednesday.
The first day of nominations, September 23rd, saw three prominent figures officially join the race. These were incumbent President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), Kasibante Robert representing the National Peoples Party (NPP), and Mabirizi Joseph from the Conservative Party (CP).
Day two, September 24th, opened with a flurry of nominations, adding five more candidates to the presidential slate. Nandala Mafabi James Nathan of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) was the first to be nominated on the second day, becoming the fourth overall contender.
He was swiftly followed by Mugisha Gregory Muntu Oyera of the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT), who secured his place as the fifth candidate.
The highly anticipated nomination of Kyagulanyi Robert Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, of the National Unity Platform (NUP) then made him the sixth candidate to enter the fray for the 2026 Presidential Elections.
Later in the day, Munyagwa Mubarak Sserunga of the Common Man’s Party (CMP) was duly nominated as the seventh candidate.
The nomination exercise officially concluded with Bulira Frank Kabinga of the Revolutionary Peoples Party (RPP), who became the eighth and final aspirant to be cleared by the Electoral Commission, bringing the total number of presidential candidates to eight.
With all nominations finalized, the Electoral Commission announced that the official Presidential Campaign Period is set to begin on September 29th, 2025.
This will follow the harmonization of candidates’ campaign programmes with the Commission, setting the stage for an intense political contest ahead of the general elections.
