BREAKING!! Just 20 Candidates Submit Signatures for 2026 Presidential Race

Out of 220 individuals who collected presidential nomination forms in August, only 20 have submitted supporters’ signatures to the Electoral Commission (EC) for verification ahead of the 2026 general elections. This shows a sharp drop from initial interest to formal compliance.

EC spokesperson Julius Mucunguzi confirmed that nine submissions came from political party candidates, while 11 were from independents. He emphasized that the verification process is thorough, ensuring every supporter is a registered voter, a Ugandan citizen, and has endorsed only one candidate.

Mucunguzi noted that some submissions contained errors, including deliberately falsified National Identification Numbers (NINs). “The EC insists on rigorous verification. Certificates of compliance will only be issued once every detail is confirmed,” he said.

The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) submitted 2.2 million signatures backing President Yoweri Museveni. The National Unity Platform (NUP) also submitted endorsements for its leader Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine. NUP Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya confirmed that the party had exceeded the legal threshold. Meanwhile, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) presented over one million signatures supporting Nathan Nandala Mafabi.

Other parties that successfully submitted endorsements include the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC), the Common Man’s Party, the Uganda People’s Movement, the Revolutionary People’s Party, the Conservative Party, the National Peasants Party (NPP), and Joseph Kabuleta’s National Economic Empowerment Dialogue (NEED).

The Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) was turned away after failing to collect at least 100 signatures from 98 districts, highlighting the EC’s strict enforcement of the rules.

Independent candidates in the race include John Katumba, who gained fame in 2021, Victoria University law student Alvin Mivule, Francis Ntezibyayo, and pastor Henry Byabakama Katabazi. Katumba faced early setbacks after arriving at the EC late at night without a proper cover letter, resulting in his documents being rejected.

Some independent aspirants expressed frustration with the process. David Magezi accused the EC of delays despite submitting his signatures early. The commission maintained that compliance with the law is mandatory and warned that districts failing to meet the 100-signature minimum would face automatic disqualification.

Presidential nominations are scheduled for September 23–24. Only candidates who meet all legal requirements and pass verification will appear on the 2026 ballot.

The process so far highlights both the competitiveness of the upcoming elections and the EC’s commitment to ensuring that only qualified candidates are cleared to run.