UPC sets nomination guidelines for 2026 elections

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The Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) has set Tuesday, July 15, 2025, as the deadline for party members intending to contest for parliamentary and local government positions in the forthcoming general elections.

According to Muzei Faisal, UPC’s head of media and communications, nomination forms will be available for collection on July 10, 2025, and must be returned by the 15th of the same month.

He specified that aspiring candidates for positions such as district chairperson, city lord mayor, woman MP, youth MP, and others should pick nomination forms from the party headquarters on the 6th floor of Uganda House in Kampala.

Faisal made the remarks during UPC’s weekly press briefing held at the party headquarters on July 2 2025.

For those contesting for councillorship at all local government levels, including municipal councils, city divisions, and subcounty chairpersons, application forms will be available at their respective district party offices.

He stated that all candidates who have participated in the UPC’s internal processes must present their party membership card and proof of annual subscription fee payment.

He added, “Proof of the application payment fee for the respective elective position, three recent passport-sized photographs, and academic documents as per the elective position, as well as a nominator and a seconder,” are also required.

Faisal reminded Local Government aspirants that 3rd July 2025 was the deadline for academic document verification by the Electoral Commission (EC). For parliamentary aspirants, the deadline is 16th July 2025.

“Candidates for the presidential elections will be nominated on August 1, 2025. We call upon all our aspiring candidates to give this exercise the utmost attention it deserves,” he emphasised.

He also acknowledged the party's grassroots participation across the country in the ongoing electoral processes in preparation for the 2026 general elections.

Meanwhile, UPC leaders in the Lango sub-region have endorsed party president Jimmy Akena as their preferred flag bearer for the 2026 presidential race.

The endorsement was announced at a regional summit held in Lira city on April 23, 2025, attended by several senior party leaders.

According to the UPC constitution, only the party president is mandated to call a delegates' conference to initiate preparations for electing a presidential candidate, as he is responsible for mobilising funds.

Japher Kaweesi, a UPC youth leader in Luwero, expressed gratitude to Akena for encouraging youth involvement in the electoral process from the grassroots level.

“As a UPC youth leader, my role is to entice young people to join the party, which made a visible contribution to this country during its two terms in government,” said Kaweesi.

Kaweesi previously contested for the LC5 seat in Makulubita subcounty, Luweero district, but lost. He now intends to run for Member of Parliament for Luweero.

“I must confess that it is not an easy task to recruit young party members as it happens in other political parties. I have witnessed this firsthand while opening district UPC offices in Luweero,” he said.

In the upcoming elections, the party plans to field candidates from grassroots positions all the way up to the presidential level.