EC warns candidates against campaigning beyond 6pm deadline
“That is why we expect, as a commission, at 6:00 pm today, all campaign rallies will come to a halt or be concluded. For those who have radio programmes, those ones can go on until Tuesday midnight. After midnight, no program on radio or TV that is of a campaign nature or in support of any candidate will be aired,” Byabakama said.
Electoral Commission Chairperson Justice Simon Mugenyi Byabakama, while addressing the media at the commission’s offices in the Industrial Area, said the law requires all candidates to stop campaigning 48 hours before polling day. (Credit: Mpalanyi Ssentongo)
KAMPALA - All candidates participating in the general elections scheduled for Thursday, January 15, 2026, have been directed to halt campaigns at exactly 6:00 pm today, Tuesday, January 13, 2026.
Electoral Commission Chairperson Justice Simon Mugenyi Byabakama, while addressing the media at the commission’s offices in the Industrial Area, said the law requires all candidates to stop campaigning 48 hours before polling day.
“That is why we expect, as a commission, at 6:00 pm today, all campaign rallies will come to a halt or be concluded. For those who have radio programmes, those ones can go on until Tuesday midnight. After midnight, no program on radio or TV that is of a campaign nature or in support of any candidate will be aired,” Byabakama said.
He added that no candidate would be permitted to move around with mobile sound systems airing music or messages in support of their candidature or campaign.
“The conclusion of the campaigns not only affects the candidate but also their agents. Agents are also not supposed to campaign on behalf of their agents after 6:00 pm for rallies or after midnight for radio or TV programmes,” Byabakama said.
Uganda will go to the polls on January 15, when voters will elect a president and Members of Parliament.
Eight candidates are contesting for the presidency, including the incumbent President Yoweri Museveni of the National Resistance Movement.
The other candidates are Robert Kyagulanyi of the National Unity Platform, Robert Kasibante of the National Peasants Party, Joseph Mabirizi of the Conservative Party and Nathan Nandala Mafabi of the Forum for Democratic Change.
Also in the race are Gregory Mugisha Muntu of the Alliance for National Transformation, Mubarak Munyagwa of the Common Man's Party and Frank Bulira Kabinga of the Revolutionary People’s Party.
According to the Electoral Commission, Uganda has 21,681,491 registered voters and 50,739 polling stations across 146 districts as of December 2025.
The country also has 312 counties, 353 constituencies, 2,191 sub-counties, towns and municipal divisions, 10,717 parishes and 71,214 villages.