The Electoral Commission (EC) has received the first batch of ballot papers for the 2026 General Elections, marking a major milestone in preparations for Uganda’s next electoral cycle.
On Christmas Eve, the Commission took delivery of 193 pallets containing more than 21.6 million presidential ballot papers. Additional consignments, including ballot papers for directly elected parliamentary candidates, were delivered on Christmas Day.
The ballot papers were printed by Al Ghurair Printing and Publishing, a Dubai-based firm, and transported to Uganda by Network Aviation Group. The consignment was formally received by the EC Chairperson, Justice Simon Byabakama, at the Commission’s facilities under tight security and in the presence of stakeholders.
Justice Byabakama said the number of presidential ballot papers printed slightly exceeds the total number of registered voters, noting that the surplus is предусмотрed under the law.
“The process of receiving and securing electoral materials is being conducted under strict supervision and with full stakeholder participation,” Byabakama said.
He explained that the additional ballot papers cater for situations where a voter may accidentally spoil a ballot before casting it, allowing for a replacement in accordance with electoral regulations.
The delivery follows the Commission’s clearance of eight candidates to contest in the 2026 presidential election. The approved contenders are Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine (National Unity Platform – NUP); incumbent President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni (National Resistance Movement – NRM); Elton Joseph Mabirizi (Conservative Party – CP); and Robert Kasibante (National Peasants Party – NPP).
Others cleared include Nathan Nandala Mafabi (Forum for Democratic Change – FDC), Mugisha Muntu (Alliance for National Transformation – ANT), Munyagwa Mubarak Sserunga (Common Man’s Party – CMP), and Bulira Frank Kabinga (Revolutionary People’s Party – RPP).
Uganda last held a presidential election on January 14, 2021, in which 10,350,819 out of 18,103,603 registered voters cast their ballots across 34,684 polling stations, representing a voter turnout of 57.2 percent.
That election attracted 11 presidential candidates, with President Museveni winning 6,042,898 votes (58.38 percent), while Bobi Wine came second with 3,631,437 votes (35.08 percent).
The Electoral Commission says the arrival of the first consignment of ballot papers signals steady progress in logistical preparations as the country moves toward the 2026 polls.
