KAMPALA – The nomination exercise for the 2026 Presidential elections commenced on Tuesday at the Electoral Commission headquarters in Lweza, with three candidates successfully clearing the first hurdle.
The Electoral Commission Chairperson, Justice Simon Byabakama, confirmed the nomination of the National Resistance Movement’s (NRM) Yoweri Museveni, the National Peasants Party’s Robert Kasibante, and the Conservative Party’s Elton Joseph Mabirizi.
In a press briefing after the day’s proceedings, Justice Byabakama stated that the exercise would continue on Wednesday. “As of now, the candidates expected tomorrow are two,” he said, referring to the National Unity Platform’s (NUP) Robert Kyagulanyi and the Forum for Democratic Change’s (FDC) Nandala Mafabi. He added that the final list for Wednesday would be confirmed after the Commission completed verifying the supporters’ lists of other aspirants.
Museveni Highlights Economic Growth Agenda
Incumbent President Yoweri Museveni was the first candidate to be nominated, arriving at the commission offices accompanied by the First Lady, Janet Museveni, and top party officials including Speaker Anita Among and Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja.
Speaking briefly to the media after his nomination, President Museveni outlined his campaign’s focus on economic transformation. “We have got two major thrusts, number one is to work with the middle class and investors… to completely transform Uganda from a lower middle income country… to a high middle income country,” he said.
He also pointed to the nation’s economic growth under his leadership, stating, “In this term that has ended, the GDP of Uganda has doubled… we were at 34 billion USD, we are now 66 billion USD.”
Kasibante Calls for Inclusive Development
Robert Kasibante, the flag bearer for the National Peasants Party, was the second candidate to be nominated. His post-nomination address struck a different tone, emphasizing citizen-led change and social justice.
“We must break the walls of inequality, restore dignity; the teachers, the nurses deserve a future that is certain,” Kasibante stated. He extended an invitation to the international community to support a “new model of inclusive development,” declaring his campaign one of “courage and unbreakable will.”
Mabirizi Overcomes Hurdle to Secure Nomination
Elton Joseph Mabirizi, a two-time candidate on the Conservative Party ticket, had a more challenging path to nomination. His initial submission was deferred by the Commission due to an uncertified Master’s Degree qualification. However, Mabirizi traveled to the National Council of Higher Education (NCHE) to have the document certified and returned to successfully complete the nomination process later in the day.
Other Aspirants Await Clearance
The Commission headquarters saw a flurry of activity from other presidential hopefuls awaiting clearance. Among those seen were Michael Kabaziguruka of the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) and Alice Alaso, the Coordinator for the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT), who was there to inquire about the clearance status of their candidate, Gen. Mugisha Muntu.
Also present were aspirants Joseph Kabuleta, Muhammad Nsereko of the Ecological Party of Uganda (EPU), and Mubarak Munyagwa of the Common Man’s Party (CMP), all working to satisfy the nomination requirements. The nomination exercise is set to continue through the week.
