Uganda’s Media Council Announces Strict Accreditation Process for 2026 General Elections

KAMPALA – In a move to regulate election coverage, Uganda’s Media Council has issued a mandatory accreditation notice for all local and foreign journalists intending to cover the 2026 General Elections, including the highly anticipated presidential poll scheduled for January 15.

The public notice, signed by Media Council official Paulo Ekochu, outlines a stringent two-step process. All media houses must first be fully registered with the Media Council of Uganda (MCU) before their journalists can apply for specific election accreditation. The Council has urged media organisations to begin the registration process “immediately.”

Key requirements include the submission of registration forms, staff lists, certificates of incorporation, and proof of fee payments. Unregistered media houses will be barred from obtaining the necessary passes for their reporters to access polling stations and other election events.

The directive also specifies separate channels for freelance and foreign journalists. Local freelancers must apply through an Online Accreditation Portal with a letter of assignment and a national ID. Foreign correspondents face additional hurdles, including providing an Interpol clearance certificate, a valid visa or work permit, and a portfolio of their work.

“Vetting and approval will be completed within 5 working days of submission,” the notice states, while warning that “late or incomplete applications will not be processed.”

The announcement comes against a tense political backdrop. Just this week, Chief of Defence Forces General Muhoozi Kainerugaba called for calm and warned against post-voting loitering at polling stations. Concurrently, internal party disputes, such as the candidate eligibility controversy in Busiro East involving NUP and independent aspirant Emmanuel Magoola, underscore the charged atmosphere in which the media will operate.

Analysts suggest the accreditation rules, while framed as a standard administrative procedure, will give authorities significant control over the journalistic field during a sensitive electoral period. The Media Council’s notice concludes with an advisory to “Stay Safe. Stay Neutral. Stay Professional,” emphasizing the expected conduct of the press.

With the first major electoral deadline approaching, media houses are now racing against time to ensure compliance and secure their right to cover the 2026 polls.