2026 Ugandan general election

Last updated

2026 Ugandan general election
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  2021 12 January 2026

President before election

Yoweri Museveni
NRM

Elected President

TBD

General elections are scheduled to be held in Uganda on 12 January 2026. [1]

Electoral system

The president of Uganda is elected using the two-round system, with candidates needing to receive at least 50% of the vote to be elected in the first round. Chapter 142 of the Presidential Elections Act of 2000 stipulates that presidential candidates must be a citizen of Uganda by birth and be qualified to be an MP. [2] Candidates are also required to be of sound mind and have no formal connection with the Electoral Commission of Uganda. Term limits were abolished in 2005. [3] The elections are supervised by the Electoral Commission of Uganda. [4]

The Parliament of Uganda has a total of 529 seats, including 353 representatives elected using first-past-the-post voting in single winner constituencies. Using the same method, 146 seats reserved for women are filled, with one seat per district. Finally, 30 seats are indirectly filled via special electoral colleges: 10 by the army, 5 by youths, 5 by elders, 5 by unions, and 5 by people with disabilities. In each of these groups, at least one woman must be elected (at least two for the army group). [5] [6] [7]

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References

  1. "Uganda's electoral body announces date for presidential, parliamentary polls in 2026". Xinhua News Agency . 1 August 2024. Retrieved 24 December 2024.
  2. "Presidential Electons [sic] Act 2000 | Uganda Legal Information Institute". ulii.org. Archived from the original on 2020-11-15. Retrieved 2020-09-18.
  3. Goitom, Hanibal (2012-04-25). "Uganda: Proposal to Re-Introduce Presidential Term Limits | Global Legal Monitor". www.loc.gov. Archived from the original on 2019-09-07. Retrieved 2020-09-18.
  4. "IFES Election Guide | Elections: Uganda President 2016". www.electionguide.org. Archived from the original on 2020-09-19. Retrieved 2020-09-18.
  5. "Constitution" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2020-09-18. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
  6. "Electoral handbook" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2020-11-29. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
  7. "IFES Election Guide | Elections: Uganda National Assembly 2021". www.electionguide.org. Archived from the original on 2021-01-22. Retrieved 2021-01-14.