Norbert Mao
It’s the big day for aspiring members of parliament around the country as the electoral commission is confirming prospective candidates. A total of 519 seats for directed elected legislators, women representatives and special interest groups are being sought after. We will be giving you all the updates right here minute-by-minute
• The Electoral Commission appointed Wednesday 22nd and Thursday 23rd October 2025 as the dates for nomination of candidates for Parliamentary Elections 2026.
• The nominations are being conducted at the respective district/city headquarters across the country, beginning at 9am and ending at 5pm on each of the appointed dates.
• The candidates are contesting for a total of 519 elective positions including 353 directly-elected MPs, 146 district and city woman representatives, and 20 seats for special interest groups (Older Persons, Persons with Disabilities, Workers, and Youths)
• An aspirant for Member of Parliament shall be a citizen of Uganda and a registered voter.
• The nomination of a candidate shall be made by two registered voters appearing in person, who shall tender the following documents to the Returning Officer:
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The Electoral Commission has confirmed Thursday, January 15, 2026 as polling day for both Presidential and Parliamentary Elections. Special Interest Group elections will follow between January 13 and February 9, 2026.
🔴 Live Updates
10:29
Four Women Challenge NUP’s Naluyima in Wakiso
Four women are officially contesting the Wakiso District Woman MP seat, challenging incumbent Ethel Naluyima (NUP).
The nominees include:
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Beth Kayesu – National Resistance Movement (NRM)
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Joreen Najjemba – Forum for Democratic Change (FDC)
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Rose Kirabira – Independent
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Irene Mpamulungi – Independent
EC officials in Wakiso are overseeing the verification of nomination documents, including payment of fees, voter registration, and academic qualifications. Supporters have gathered outside the nomination center as the process unfolds.
By midday, 13 candidates had been nominated in Mukono District . So far, the turnout was good on the first day, with most of the candidates being nominated on the independent ticket. Among those nominated is the former minister for water, Mr. Ronald Kibuule, who is contesting to be the Member of Parliament for Mukono North constituency. Kibuule was in parliament for two terms but lost to Abdallah Kiwanuka of NUP in 2021.
Kibuule says that since his absence as the area member of Parliament, nothing has been developed yet. People are demanding services, and they have requested that I contest again, as the opposition leader currently in place is not performing. During my term, I extended and improved the water system and electricity.
Therefore, I want to start from where I stopped and fully deliver services to those who did not benefit last time. I also aim to boost employment, to secure over one million jobs in the industries/ factories within this district. Among the others who have been nominated is Rev. Peter Bakulaba, who has been the LCV chairperson of Mukono district.
Bakaluba is contesting as an independent candidate against Ms. Betty Nambooze for the Mukono municipality position. Robert Ssekitoreko Kafeero NRM Nakifuma county Hanifa Nabukeera, who has been a woman MP for Mukono district, has also been nominated as an independent candidate to contest against Nambooze for Mukono municipality.
Sulaiman Kiwanuka Nup, nominated for Nakifuma County, others are Andrew Ssenyonga, independent for Mukono municipality, Vitarine Nalumansi Nansuga, FDC Woman MP, Peace Kusasira, independent woman MP, Roy Mwesigwa, independent Mukono South, Joshua Mugrya, independent Nakifuma, Vincent Grace Luswata, Mukono South, Esther Gibone, independent Mukono South and Isaac Drasi, independent Mukono North.
A total number of 14 aspirants vying for various parliament seats in buikwe District have been nominated in what has been described by locals and EC as the most peaceful exercise ever held in the district.
By 8am in the morning EC offices were open and officials ready to handle any incoming aspirant.
First to be nominated was Richard Senteza aspiring for the Lugazi municipality.
Senteza is contesting as an independent after losing the NRM flag to his arch rival and former local MP Isaac Mulindwa Ssozi.
Senteza said being the born of the area, he is the right person to represent the constituency.
One by one aspirants kept coming in one by one and got nominated, walking away after without any hustle.
Others nominated on day one was NRM flag bearer and state minister in office of the president and Buikwe district woman member of parliament Diana Mutasingwa struggling to maintain her seat in parliament. She said, she is contesting again to finish what she has not done the period she’s been in parliament.
She contesting for the same seat with NUP’S Farida Nabatanzi who was also nominated on the same day. She has vowed to unseat Diana come the polling day.
She said the district has been poorly represented in the past 10 years because the MPs who have been representing it Hon. Diana Mutasingwa and sing bird Judith Babirye have so dormant.
These two people have been spectators in parliament denying our area proper representation. This is the reason the people of Buikwe should vote out the incumbent”, said Farida.
Others in the race for the buikwe district woman MP include Harriet Nankabirwa contesting as independent, after losing in the NRM primaries. Another one is Namwanga Lukiya of FDC.
The list of aspirants nominated on day one.
Senteza Richard Lugazi municipalitt (IND), Ceaser kalema Njeru municipality IND, lsac Mulindwa Sozi Lugazi muni. NRM, David Mutebi Ronald Buikwe South NRM, Dr. Bayiga Lulume Buikwe South Pff, kabuye mpozi Njeru municipality NRM, Njjaka Hassan Njeru lNd, lvan Sekito Lugazi municipality lNd, Nabatanzi Farida dist. woman MP NUP, Enock Kaluba buikwe South Ind, Anthony Mikasa Buikwe South Ind, muyomba Richard Njeru municipality FDC, Moses Musanje NUP.
Talking to this news paper the locals in buikwe town hailed all those nominated for keeping the entire exercise on day one clean.
“We are praying that it goes on like this throughout”, said mukasa Steven a resident and business man in buikwe town.
Kagona Moses asked those turning up for nominations on day two together with their supporters to exercise the same discipline.
Twenty four aspirants are expected to be nominated in the two days of nominations
10:26
DP President Mao Arrives for Nomination in Gulu City
Democratic Party (DP) President General and Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Norbert Mao, has arrived at the Gulu City Electoral Commission offices for his nomination as Member of Parliament for Pece-Laroo Division.
Supporters have gathered outside the nomination venue, waving DP flags and chanting party slogans as the longtime political leader seeks a return to active elective politics in his home region.
In Kyotera District, one of the prominent candidates, Haruna Kyeyune Kasolo, the current Minister of State for Microfinance, has been nominated to contest for the Kyotera County seat. In the previous election, Kasolo was defeated by John Paul Mpalanyi Lukwago, then of the Democratic Party (DP), who is now running under the National Unity Platform (NUP) for the same position.
Kasolo has pledged to continue advocating for better representation for the people of Kyotera, stating that they were not adequately represented during the last term.
Also nominated for the district’s Woman MP Position is Fortunate Rose Nantongo. Nantongo has vowed to be the voice of Kyotera’s women, focusing her efforts on improving agriculture, education, and healthcare in the district.
Other candidates vying for positions include Dorah Nayiga, who is contesting for the District Woman MP seat, and Ismail Lubega Kaka, who is running for the Kakuuto County seat. Both have promised to provide strong, effective leadership for Kyotera.