Uganda Unveils 2026 Election Polling dates Ahead of January 15 Vote

Uganda will begin its 2026 general elections on January 15, when voters head to the polls to elect the President and Members of Parliament, according to the country’s Electoral Commission.

The presidential and parliamentary vote will be followed by a series of staggered elections for local government leaders and representatives of special interest groups, running through early February 2026.

Main national vote

The Electoral Commission has set January 15, 2026, as polling day for the Presidential and Parliamentary elections, marking the start of Uganda’s most important electoral exercise. This vote will determine the country’s next president and directly elected lawmakers.

Elections that follow

After the national vote, elections will continue in phases:

• January 19: Workers’ representatives to Parliament

• January 20: Special Interest Group (SIG) councillors at municipality and city division level, representing youth, older persons and persons with disabilities

• January 22: District and city local government elections, including chairpersons, mayors and councillors

• January 27: Municipality and city division chairpersons and councillors

• January 28:

  • Regional youth representatives to Parliament

  • UPDF (army) representatives to Parliament

• January 29: SIG councillors at district and city level, representing youth, older persons, workers and persons with disabilities

• January 30: SIG councillors at sub-county, town and municipal division level

February polls

Elections will conclude in February with votes for special parliamentary representatives:

• February 2: Older persons’ representatives to Parliament

• February 3: Persons with disabilities (PWDs) representatives to Parliament

• February 4: Sub-county, town and municipal division elections

• February 6: National female youth representative to Parliament

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Uganda’s election system separates voting days to allow special interest groups, security agencies and local governments to elect their representatives independently. The Electoral Commission says this approach helps manage logistics and ensures wider participation across different voter groups.

The 2026 elections are being closely watched both locally and internationally, as they come amid heightened political competition and increased attention to campaign conduct, media access and public order.

The election roadmap and polling dates were first reported by the Electoral Commission of Uganda, which has urged voters to follow official guidance and verify information through its authorized channels.

Source : Uganda Electoral Commission