KAMPALA. The Uganda Electoral Commission has officially closed the presidential nominations with eight candidates cleared to canvas for votes ahead of next year’s General Elections.
Frank Bulira Kabinga , Revolutionary People’s Party and Mubarak Munyagwa, of Common Man’s Party were the last candidates to be nominated .
Speaking to the media, Munyagwa ,who was the second last to get nominated , introduced elements of the party’s “Common Man’s Manifesto,” promising to champion equity, justice, and economic empowerment for ordinary Ugandans.
While he did not fully release the manifesto, he said the party would formally submit it to authorities for public presentation.
Central to Munyagwa’s heart is the release of all political prisoners, including Dr Kizza Besigye.
“One of my agendas in the first 100 days is to release Dr Kizza Besigye and all other political prisoners,” he said.
Munyagwa also outlined economic reforms aimed at boosting local business and regulating foreign investment.
He criticised the dominance of foreign actors in Uganda’s markets and pledged to prioritise Ugandan investors.
He said his government would revisit the East African Cooperation Protocol to address what he described as unfair trade restrictions from neighbouring countries, particularly Kenya and Tanzania.
On governance and anti-corruption, Munyagwa emphasized transparency and accountability.
“Our symbol represents equity, equality, and the fight against greed and corruption,” he said.
Other candidates include; the incumbent Yoweri Museveni of National Resistance Movement , Alliance for National Transformation presidential candidate Gregory Mugisha Muntu , National Unity Platform (NUP)’s Robert Kasibante of the National Peasants Party ,Elton Joseph Mabirizi of Conservative Party and Forum for Democratic Change first-time presidential candidate Nandala Nathan Mafabi.
In his closing remarks after conducting nominations, Justice Byabakama urged all candidates to observe peace and follow the law during campaigns.
Presidential campaigns are scheduled to commence on September 29, 2025, and will run until the election date on January 12, 2026.