Out of the 220 individuals who picked presidential nomination forms in August, only 20 have so far submitted supporters’ signatures to the Electoral Commission (EC) for verification ahead of the 2026 general elections.
EC spokesperson Julius Mucunguzi confirmed that of the 20 submissions, nine are from political party candidates while 11 are from independents. He said the verification process is rigorous, ensuring each supporter is a registered voter, a Ugandan citizen, and has not endorsed more than one aspirant.
Some submissions, Mucunguzi noted, contained errors such as deliberately falsified National Identification Numbers (NINs). “That is why the EC insists on a thorough verification exercise. Certificates of compliance will only be issued once every detail is confirmed,” he added.
Among the political parties, the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) submitted 2.2 million signatures endorsing President Yoweri Museveni. The National Unity Platform (NUP) also submitted signatures for its leader Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, with Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya saying the party had exceeded the legal threshold. The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) backed Nathan Nandala Mafabi with more than one million signatures.
Other parties that complied include the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC), the Common Man’s Party, the Uganda People’s Movement, the Revolutionary People’s Party, the Conservative Party, the National Peasants Party (NPP), and Joseph Kabuleta’s National Economic Empowerment Dialogue (NEED).
The Alliance for National Transformation (ANT), however, was turned away after failing to meet the legal requirement of at least 100 signatures from 98 districts.
Independent aspirants in the race include John Katumba, who rose to fame in 2021, Victoria University law student Alvin Mivule, Francis Ntezibyayo, pastor Henry Byabakama Katabazi, among others. Katumba stumbled early in the process after arriving at the EC at 11 p.m. without a proper cover letter, leading officials to reject his documents.
Some independents expressed frustration with the process, with David Magezi accusing the commission of delays despite his early submission. The EC has maintained that compliance with the law is non-negotiable, stressing that any district falling short of the required 100 signatures will automatically be disqualified.
Presidential nominations are scheduled for September 23–24, and only aspirants who meet all legal requirements will be cleared to appear on the 2026 ballot.
