KAMPALA.
Public servants planning to join elective politics in next year’s General Elections have been asked to tender in their resignation letters as stipulated by the law.
According to Section 4(4) of the Parliamentary Elections Act, 2005, any public servant , government agency employee, local government worker, or staff in institutions where the government holds a controlling interest, who intends to vie for a parliamentary seat, must resign at least 90 days before the nomination day.
Also, for those planning to contest for local council positions, Section 116(4 and 5) of the Local Governments Act Cap 138 requires them to step down at least 30 days before nomination day. The resignation must follow the procedures outlined in the terms of their employment or public service guidelines. However, individual civil servants who want to vie for president can resign a day before the nomination. The deadline for resignation of the presidential candidates is October 1, 2025 a day before their nominations on October 2 and 3.
“In line with the above, this is to guide you to take note of the election roadmap by the Electoral Commission in order to comply with the resignation and retirement timelines,” Mr Ben Kumumanya, the Ministry of Local Government, permanent secretary ,said in a April 17 circular to all public servants .
When public servants resign joining politics communicate early it will enable the government to plan accordingly to replace them.
“With the General Election expected in early 2026, the communication is timely, aiming to prevent confusion and ensure that public officers follow due process as they transition from civil service to politics. According to the Electoral Commission (EC) election roadmap, the deadline for resignation of public servants intending to contest for parliamentary election is June 13, while those intending to contest for local government seats is August 2.
Uganda has over 320,000 civil servants working in various government departments and agencies to deliver public services. While some reports mention 366,574 civil servants in public service, others indicate a figure closer to 470,000, according to President Museveni.