Kampala, Uganda – The week begins with the official launch of presidential campaigns ahead of the 2026 General Election, set for January 12, 2026. According to the Electoral Commission spokesperson, Julius Mucunguzi, campaigns on each day commence at 8:00 am and close at 6:00 pm.
The incumbent President and NRM flag bearer, H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni, will today unveil the NRM manifesto at Munyonyo before proceeding to Luweero, a district that has become symbolic of his nearly four decades in power. Luweero holds historic significance as the base of the 1981–1986 National Resistance Army (NRA) guerrilla war that toppled the Obote II regime and ushered in the current government. Since then, the district has often featured prominently in Museveni’s campaigns, described by the President as the “heartland of the revolution.” Analysts note that his return to Luweero underscores an effort to remind voters of the sacrifices made during that period while linking the NRM’s longevity to its liberation legacy.
Kyagulanyi Ssentamu Robert will be headed to Jinja today where the National Unity Platform (NUP) manifesto will be launched. Hopes are high that the NUP flag bearers for the parliamentary election will be announced within this week, not long after the start of the campaigns.
Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) candidate James Nathan Nandala Mafabi has chosen Buikwe to launch his campaign, referring to it as “home.” Elsewhere, Robert Kasibante of the National People’s Party (NPP) will open his drive in Mityana and Kassanda districts, while Bulira Frank of the Revolutionary People’s Party (RPP) will start in Bugiri.
Mubarak Munyangwa of the Common Man’s Party (CMP) begins his campaign in an area he represented in Parliament between 2016 and 2021, promising what he calls “shared prosperity on a silver platter.”
While the Electoral Commission has emphasized that the harmonized program gives each candidate equal opportunity, some candidates have expressed concern over the limited time to cover Uganda’s 146 districts. Gregory Mugisha Muntu of the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) and Joseph Mabirizi of the Conservative Party (CP) are among those starting with a pause. Muntu is scheduled to begin his campaign in Kawempe and Kampala Central tomorrow, while Mabirizi will resume on October 1 with rallies planned in Kiboga and Kyankwanzi.
The campaign season, running from September 29, 2025, to January 12, 2026, is expected to be intense, with candidates traversing the country to present their manifestos and appeal to the electorate. The Electoral Commission has urged all candidates and supporters to conduct their activities peacefully, in line with the Presidential Elections Act, the Public Order Management Act, and the Electoral Commission Act.
