On Wednesday, the Electoral Commission concluded the nomination of presidential aspirants in the 2026 race.
At the end of the day, seven aspirants had been nominated to challenge the incumbent, President Museveni in the forthcoming election.
The UG Bulletin now looks at what the candidates are supposed to do after their nomination.
After nomination, each political candidate is required to appoint an official agent responsible for coordinating campaign activities.
This agent oversees campaign meetings, media engagements, and represents the candidate at any necessary events.
Their role is central to the smooth organization and execution of the candidate’s campaign strategy.
In addition to this appointment, candidates must promptly submit their campaign schedules to the Electoral Commission.
This includes dates and locations for meetings and media programs. The purpose is to enable the Commission to harmonize all candidates’ activities across the country, minimizing conflicts and ensuring a fair and orderly campaign period.
Candidates are also obligated to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Electoral Commission.
This agreement outlines their commitment to adhere to the harmonized campaign program, observe campaign timelines, and comply with all electoral guidelines established by the Commission.
Immediately after the nomination process is completed, the Electoral Commission provides each candidate with a soft copy of the national voters register.
This resource supports candidates in planning and executing their outreach strategies effectively.
The law further mandates that the Electoral Commission provide each candidate with comprehensive security.
This includes a dedicated security vehicle, home protection, road security, and general personal safety measures throughout the campaign period.
To this end, each candidate is assigned a security team comprising 16 soldiers and one official driver.
Importantly, the security vehicle is not for the candidate’s use in terms of transport.
The driver appointed by the Commission is the only person authorized to operate the vehicle, and the candidate is not permitted to travel in it under any circumstance.
This measure ensures that the vehicle remains strictly for security operations and not for campaign logistics.
Together, these provisions aim to guarantee a level playing field, ensure candidates’ safety, and maintain order throughout the electoral process.
