Uganda's 2026 Elections: A Citizen's Guide to Navigating Democracy

 

10.06.2025 Wajynews

As Uganda approaches the 2026 general elections, millions of ordinary citizens find themselves at a crossroads that will shape the nation's trajectory for the next five years. These elections represent more than just the selection of leaders—they embody the hopes, aspirations, and democratic rights of every Ugandan, from the farmer in Karamoja to the entrepreneur in Kampala, from the teacher in Mbarara to the fisherman on Lake Victoria.

For the ordinary Ugandan, elections can feel both empowering and overwhelming. The democratic process offers the precious opportunity to influence governance and hold leaders accountable, yet it also presents challenges: navigating political rhetoric, understanding complex issues, avoiding manipulation, and ensuring your voice is heard effectively. This comprehensive guide aims to equip every Ugandan citizen with the knowledge, tools, and strategies needed to participate meaningfully in the 2026 electoral process while protecting themselves and their communities from potential pitfalls.

The stakes couldn't be higher. Uganda faces significant challenges that require thoughtful leadership and citizen engagement: economic recovery and job creation, healthcare system strengthening, educational improvements, infrastructure development, corruption reduction, and fostering national unity across diverse communities. How Ugandans participate in the 2026 elections will directly influence the country's ability to address these critical issues.

This blog serves as a practical roadmap for ordinary citizens, providing actionable guidance on what to do and what to avoid during the electoral period. It addresses the real concerns of everyday Ugandans while promoting civic responsibility, democratic participation, and peaceful coexistence regardless of political differences.

Understanding Uganda's Electoral Landscape

Uganda's electoral system operates within a multi-party democracy framework, though the reality on the ground often presents complexities that every citizen should understand. The 2026 elections will include presidential, parliamentary, and local council elections, each carrying significant implications for how the country is governed at different levels.

The presidential election determines who will lead the executive branch of government, making crucial decisions about national policy, economic direction, international relations, and resource allocation. Parliamentary elections select the legislators who will represent constituencies, debate national issues, pass laws, and provide oversight of government operations. Local council elections choose leaders who directly impact daily life through service delivery, local development projects, and community governance.

Understanding this multi-tiered system helps ordinary citizens recognize where their vote can have the most direct impact on their daily lives. While presidential elections often receive the most attention, local council elections frequently have more immediate effects on issues like road maintenance, healthcare facility management, school oversight, and market regulation.

The Electoral Commission of Uganda oversees the entire process, from voter registration to result declaration. Citizens should understand the commission's role, their rights within the electoral process, and the mechanisms available for addressing electoral concerns or complaints. This knowledge empowers voters to participate effectively while protecting the integrity of their democratic participation.

Political parties will present various platforms and candidates, each claiming to offer the best solutions for Uganda's challenges. Citizens need analytical skills to evaluate these promises critically, understanding what is realistically achievable versus what may be unrealistic campaign rhetoric designed primarily to win votes.

The Power and Responsibility of Your Vote

Every Ugandan vote carries immense power and responsibility. In a democracy, the vote represents the fundamental mechanism through which citizens express their will, choose their representatives, and influence national direction. Understanding this power helps citizens approach elections with the seriousness and thoughtfulness they deserve.

Your vote is your voice in determining who controls government resources—billions of shillings in national budgets that fund schools, hospitals, roads, and development programs. It influences who makes decisions about taxation, economic policies, and how public services are delivered. These decisions directly affect job opportunities, healthcare access, education quality, and overall quality of life for ordinary Ugandans.

The responsibility aspect is equally important. Voting thoughtlessly, based on superficial factors or immediate incentives, can lead to leadership that fails to address long-term challenges or serves narrow interests rather than the broader public good. Conversely, informed, principled voting contributes to governance that reflects the genuine needs and aspirations of Ugandan citizens.

This power extends beyond the individual vote to collective impact. When citizens vote based on careful consideration of issues, candidate qualifications, and long-term national interests, they create electoral outcomes that promote good governance, accountability, and sustainable development. When voting patterns are influenced primarily by ethnic considerations, immediate material incentives, or manipulation, they can perpetuate cycles of poor governance and missed opportunities.

Understanding your vote's power also means recognizing that electoral participation doesn't end with casting a ballot. Citizens have ongoing responsibilities to monitor elected officials, engage in civic activities, and hold leaders accountable between elections. This continuous engagement ensures that electoral promises translate into actual improvements in people's lives.

Economic Implications of Electoral Choices

The 2026 elections will significantly influence Uganda's economic trajectory, affecting job opportunities, business environments, inflation rates, and overall economic growth. For ordinary Ugandans struggling with unemployment, rising costs of living, and limited economic opportunities, understanding these economic implications is crucial for making informed electoral choices.

Different political platforms will propose varying approaches to economic challenges. Some may emphasize private sector growth, reducing business regulations, and attracting foreign investment. Others might focus on government-led development programs, public sector employment, or wealth redistribution mechanisms. Citizens need to evaluate these approaches critically, considering both their potential benefits and realistic implementation challenges.

Job creation represents a critical issue for most Ugandans, particularly young people entering the workforce. Electoral promises about employment generation should be examined carefully. What specific policies will create jobs? Are these policies realistic given global economic conditions and Uganda's current economic situation? How will proposed programs be funded without creating unsustainable debt burdens?

Agricultural policies deserve special attention since agriculture employs the majority of Ugandans and affects food security for everyone. Campaign promises about farmer support, agricultural modernization, and rural development should be evaluated for their practicality and potential impact on both rural and urban communities.

Infrastructure development proposals—roads, electricity, water systems, internet connectivity—directly affect economic opportunities and quality of life. Citizens should assess which candidates offer realistic, well-planned infrastructure programs rather than grandiose promises without clear implementation strategies.

Taxation and public expenditure policies proposed by different candidates will influence how much money remains in citizens' pockets and how effectively government resources are utilized. Understanding these policy differences helps voters choose leaders whose economic approaches align with their interests and national development needs.

Social Issues and Community Impact

Elections influence social policies that affect family life, community relationships, education access, healthcare delivery, and social services. For ordinary Ugandans, these social implications often matter more than abstract political debates, directly impacting daily experiences and future opportunities.

Education policies will determine school funding, teacher training, curriculum development, and access to higher education. Parents and young people should carefully evaluate candidates' education platforms, considering both quality improvements and accessibility enhancements. Promises about free education sound appealing but require sustainable funding mechanisms to be effective long-term.

Healthcare policies affect everyone's wellbeing and financial security. Medical emergencies can devastate family finances when healthcare systems are inadequate or inaccessible. Electoral choices influence healthcare facility funding, medical personnel training, medicine availability, and health insurance programs. Citizens should evaluate which candidates offer realistic, comprehensive healthcare improvements.

Social protection programs—support for elderly citizens, disability services, child welfare systems, and poverty reduction initiatives—reflect a society's commitment to caring for vulnerable members. These programs also provide economic security for families facing hardships. Understanding different candidates' approaches to social protection helps voters choose leaders who will strengthen these crucial safety nets.

Gender equality and women's empowerment policies affect half the population directly and influence overall social progress. How candidates propose to address gender-based violence, women's economic participation, and gender representation in leadership positions reveals their commitment to inclusive development.

Youth development programs are crucial given Uganda's young population. Policies affecting youth employment, skills development, entrepreneurship support, and civic engagement opportunities will shape the country's future. Young voters should particularly scrutinize these policy areas when making electoral choices.

Security and Stability Considerations

Security concerns influence every aspect of life, from personal safety to economic development. The 2026 elections will determine leadership approaches to various security challenges that affect ordinary Ugandans' daily lives and long-term wellbeing.

Personal security encompasses protection from crime, domestic violence, and community conflicts. Different candidates may propose varying approaches to law enforcement, community policing, and crime prevention. Citizens should evaluate these proposals based on their effectiveness potential and respect for human rights rather than just promises of tough enforcement.

Economic security involves protection from economic shocks, job market instability, and financial system failures. Electoral choices influence policies about financial regulation, economic diversification, social safety nets, and crisis response mechanisms. These policies directly affect ordinary citizens' ability to plan for the future and weather economic difficulties.

Food security remains a critical concern for many Ugandans. Climate change, agricultural productivity, and food distribution systems all influence food availability and affordability. Candidates' agricultural and environmental policies will determine how effectively Uganda addresses food security challenges in coming years.

Border security and regional stability affect trade opportunities, refugee situations, and overall economic development. Uganda's position in East Africa means that regional conflicts and cooperation significantly impact domestic conditions. Understanding candidates' foreign policy approaches helps voters assess their likely effectiveness in maintaining beneficial regional relationships.

Internal conflicts and community tensions require careful leadership to prevent escalation and promote reconciliation. How candidates propose to address ethnic tensions, land disputes, and resource conflicts reveals their capacity to promote national unity and peaceful coexistence.

What to Do: Positive Participation Strategies

Effective electoral participation requires proactive preparation and thoughtful engagement throughout the electoral process. These positive strategies help ordinary Ugandans maximize their democratic influence while contributing to peaceful, credible elections.

Voter Registration and Verification: Ensure your voter registration is current and accurate. Check your registration status well before election deadlines, and update your information if you've moved or changed personal details. Encourage eligible family members and friends to register, particularly young people reaching voting age. Voter registration is the foundation of electoral participation—you cannot influence outcomes if you're not registered to vote.

Information Gathering and Analysis: Actively seek information about candidates, their backgrounds, policy positions, and track records. Don't rely solely on campaign materials or social media posts, which may be biased or misleading. Consult multiple sources including candidate debates, independent media coverage, civil society analyses, and direct interaction with candidates or their representatives when possible.

Issue-Based Evaluation: Focus on substantive issues rather than personality contests or superficial characteristics. Identify the problems most important to you and your community—unemployment, healthcare access, education quality, infrastructure development, security concerns—and evaluate which candidates offer the most realistic, comprehensive solutions to these challenges.

Community Engagement: Participate in community discussions about electoral issues and candidates. Attend public forums, candidate debates, and community meetings where electoral matters are discussed. Share information with neighbors and friends, but focus on factual information rather than rumors or unverified claims.

Civic Education: Take advantage of civic education opportunities offered by neutral organizations. Many civil society groups, religious organizations, and educational institutions provide non-partisan information about the electoral process, candidate positions, and voting procedures. This education enhances your ability to participate effectively.

Peaceful Advocacy: If you support particular candidates or positions, advocate for them peacefully and respectfully. This might involve volunteering for campaigns, attending rallies, engaging in respectful discussions with others, or using social media responsibly to share factual information about your preferred choices.

Election Day Preparation: Plan your election day activities carefully. Know your polling station location, understand voting procedures, and arrive prepared with proper identification. Allow sufficient time for voting without rushing, and be prepared for possible delays or crowds at polling stations.

Result Monitoring: Stay informed about election results through reliable sources, but avoid spreading unverified information about outcomes. If you have concerns about electoral irregularities, report them through proper channels rather than engaging in speculation or inflammatory rhetoric.

What Not to Do: Avoiding Electoral Pitfalls

Certain behaviors and approaches can undermine electoral integrity, personal safety, and democratic outcomes. Understanding these pitfalls helps ordinary Ugandans avoid actions that could harm themselves, their communities, or the broader democratic process.

Vote Buying and Selling: Resist attempts to buy your vote or sell your vote to others. Vote buying corrupts the democratic process by making electoral outcomes dependent on money rather than citizen preferences. It also perpetuates cycles of poor governance by rewarding politicians who prioritize short-term handouts over long-term development programs. Remember that vote buying is illegal and can result in criminal charges.

Violence and Intimidation: Never engage in or support electoral violence or intimidation tactics. This includes physical violence, threats, property destruction, or attempts to prevent others from exercising their voting rights. Electoral violence destroys democratic legitimacy, traumatizes communities, and often leads to cycles of revenge and continued conflict.

Spreading Misinformation: Avoid sharing unverified information about candidates, electoral processes, or election results. Misinformation can influence voting decisions based on false premises, create unnecessary tensions between communities, and undermine confidence in democratic institutions. Always verify information before sharing it, and acknowledge when you're uncertain about facts.

Ethnic or Religious Discrimination: Don't base voting decisions solely on candidates' ethnic backgrounds, religious affiliations, or regional origins. While cultural identity is important, voting primarily on these grounds rather than candidate qualifications and policy positions can perpetuate divisions and result in leadership that serves narrow constituencies rather than national interests.

Illegal Campaign Activities: Avoid participating in illegal campaign activities such as defacing property with campaign materials, disrupting opponents' events, or engaging in campaign activities at prohibited locations like schools or government offices. These activities can result in criminal charges and undermine the credibility of your preferred candidates.

Election Day Violations: Don't engage in prohibited election day activities such as campaigning at polling stations, photographing ballots, attempting to influence other voters while they're voting, or remaining at polling stations after voting unless you're an official observer. These activities can invalidate elections and result in legal consequences.

Premature Celebration or Protest: Avoid premature celebrations or protests based on incomplete election results. Wait for official result declarations before responding to electoral outcomes. Premature reactions based on rumors or partial information can create unnecessary tensions and conflicts.

Social Media Irresponsibility: Don't use social media platforms to spread hate speech, incite violence, share unverified information, or engage in personal attacks against candidates or their supporters. Social media can be a powerful tool for positive civic engagement, but irresponsible use can cause significant harm to individuals and communities.

Navigating Campaign Promises and Political Rhetoric

Campaign periods are characterized by ambitious promises and persuasive rhetoric designed to win votes. Ordinary Ugandans need analytical skills to distinguish between realistic policy proposals and unrealistic campaign promises that cannot be delivered.

Evaluate Feasibility: Assess whether campaign promises are realistic given Uganda's economic situation, institutional capacity, and resource constraints. Promises that sound too good to be true often are unrealistic. For example, promises to eliminate unemployment within one year or provide free everything without explaining funding sources should be viewed skeptically.

Demand Specificity: Look for specific implementation plans rather than vague promises. How exactly will a candidate create jobs? What specific steps will they take to improve healthcare? Which revenue sources will fund proposed programs? Candidates who provide detailed, realistic implementation plans demonstrate more serious preparation for governance.

Consider Track Records: Examine candidates' previous performance in leadership positions. Have they successfully implemented similar programs before? Do their past actions align with their current promises? Track records provide better indicators of future performance than campaign rhetoric alone.

Analyze Resource Requirements: Consider whether proposed programs have realistic funding mechanisms. Programs requiring significant resources should include clear explanations of how they will be financed without creating unsustainable debt burdens or requiring unrealistic tax increases.

Assess Timeline Realism: Be skeptical of promises that claim immediate solutions to complex, long-term problems. Structural issues like unemployment, healthcare system weaknesses, or educational challenges require sustained effort over multiple years to address effectively.

Look for Continuity and Consistency: Pay attention to whether candidates' positions remain consistent over time and across different audiences. Politicians who dramatically change positions based on their audience may be prioritizing vote-getting over genuine policy commitments.

Understanding Media and Information Sources

The quality of information citizens receive significantly influences their electoral choices. In an era of diverse media sources and social media proliferation, ordinary Ugandans need skills to identify reliable information and avoid manipulation.

Diversify Information Sources: Don't rely on single sources for electoral information. Consult multiple newspapers, radio stations, television programs, and online sources to get comprehensive perspectives on candidates and issues. Different sources may emphasize different aspects of the same story, providing fuller understanding.

Identify Bias and Agenda: Recognize that all media sources have some degree of bias based on their ownership, target audience, or editorial positions. Understanding these biases helps you interpret information more accurately. Sources that consistently favor particular candidates or parties should be balanced with others offering different perspectives.

Verify Information: Before accepting or sharing information, particularly sensational claims about candidates or electoral processes, try to verify it through multiple independent sources. Be especially cautious about information that seems designed to provoke strong emotional reactions rather than inform rational decision-making.

Distinguish News from Opinion: Learn to differentiate between news reporting and opinion pieces. News should present facts objectively, while opinion pieces reflect particular viewpoints. Both have value, but they serve different purposes and should be consumed with different expectations.

Social Media Literacy: Understand that social media platforms amplify both accurate information and misinformation rapidly. Information shared on social media should be verified through reliable sources before being accepted as factual. Be particularly cautious about information that confirms your existing beliefs without critical examination.

Official Sources: For information about electoral procedures, candidate registration, voting requirements, and result declarations, prioritize official sources like the Electoral Commission, rather than unofficial sources that may contain errors or deliberate misinformation.

Economic Decision-Making During Elections

Electoral periods often bring economic uncertainties and opportunities that require careful navigation by ordinary citizens. Understanding these economic dynamics helps protect personal finances while taking advantage of legitimate opportunities.

Budget Planning: Recognize that electoral periods can bring economic instability affecting prices, employment, and business conditions. Plan your household budget conservatively, maintaining emergency savings if possible to weather potential economic disruptions during and after elections.

Employment Considerations: Be cautious about job opportunities that seem directly linked to electoral outcomes or require partisan political activities. While legitimate employment opportunities may arise during campaign periods, jobs that depend on specific electoral results or require compromising your political independence may not provide long-term security.

Business Operations: If you operate a business, maintain political neutrality in your business activities to avoid alienating customers with different political preferences. Consider how electoral uncertainties might affect your business and develop contingency plans for different possible outcomes.

Investment Decisions: Major investment decisions should consider potential policy changes that might result from different electoral outcomes. However, avoid making dramatic investment changes based solely on electoral speculation, as markets often prove more resilient than political rhetoric suggests.

Debt Management: Be particularly cautious about taking on significant debt during electoral periods, when economic conditions may be more uncertain than usual. If debt is necessary, ensure you have realistic repayment plans that don't depend on optimistic assumptions about post-election economic conditions.

Financial Services: Use established, regulated financial institutions rather than informal schemes that might be connected to political activities. Electoral periods sometimes see the emergence of questionable financial schemes that promise unrealistic returns or may be designed to influence voting behavior.

Community Relations and Social Harmony

Elections can strain community relationships as political differences become more prominent. Maintaining social harmony requires deliberate effort to preserve relationships across political divides.

Respect Different Opinions: Recognize that reasonable people can have different political preferences based on their experiences, priorities, and values. Respect others' right to support different candidates without assuming negative motives or character flaws.

Focus on Shared Values: Emphasize common ground with neighbors, friends, and family members who may have different political preferences. Most Ugandans share desires for peace, prosperity, good governance, and community wellbeing, even if they disagree about which candidates can best achieve these goals.

Avoid Divisive Language: Use respectful language when discussing political matters, avoiding inflammatory rhetoric that characterizes political opponents as enemies or threats. Remember that these are fellow citizens who will remain your neighbors, colleagues, and community members after elections conclude.

Maintain Professional Relationships: Keep workplace relationships professional regardless of political differences. Avoid using professional platforms for partisan political activities or allowing political disagreements to interfere with work responsibilities and colleague relationships.

Protect Family Unity: Handle political differences within families carefully, prioritizing family relationships over political positions. Extended families often include people with diverse political views, and maintaining family harmony requires respecting these differences while focusing on family bonds.

Community Activities: Continue participating in non-political community activities that bring people together across party lines. Religious services, community development projects, cultural events, and social activities help maintain community cohesion despite political differences.

Legal Rights and Responsibilities

Understanding your legal rights and responsibilities during electoral periods helps protect yourself while contributing to credible elections. This knowledge also empowers citizens to identify and report illegal activities that undermine democratic processes.

Voting Rights: You have the right to vote freely without coercion, intimidation, or interference. This includes the right to vote privately, to receive assistance if needed due to disability or illiteracy, and to vote without being pressured by employers, family members, or community leaders.

Information Rights: You have the right to access information about candidates, their platforms, and electoral procedures. This includes the right to attend public meetings, ask questions of candidates, and access public documents related to electoral processes.

Freedom of Expression: You have the right to express your political opinions, support candidates of your choice, and engage in peaceful political activities. However, this right has limits—you cannot engage in hate speech, incitement to violence, or defamation of others.

Protection from Intimidation: You have the right to be free from political intimidation, threats, or violence. If you experience or witness such activities, you should report them to appropriate authorities while ensuring your personal safety.

Privacy Rights: Your voting choices are private, and you cannot be legally required to reveal how you voted. Employers, family members, or community leaders cannot legitimately demand to know your voting preferences or punish you for your electoral choices.

Complaint Mechanisms: You have the right to file complaints about electoral irregularities, violations of electoral laws, or infringement of your electoral rights. Understanding proper complaint procedures helps ensure that problems are addressed through legal channels rather than through confrontation or violence.

Youth Participation and Leadership

Young Ugandans represent the majority of the population and will live longest with the consequences of electoral decisions. Their meaningful participation is crucial for democratic legitimacy and future-oriented governance.

Registration Priority: Young people reaching voting age should prioritize voter registration, as this is their entry point into formal political participation. Registration drives often target schools and universities, but individual responsibility for registration remains important.

Issue Focus: Young voters should focus on issues particularly relevant to their generation: job creation, education access and quality, technology adoption, climate change, and long-term economic development. These issues will significantly impact their life opportunities and career prospects.

Leadership Opportunities: Elections offer opportunities for young people to participate as poll workers, party agents, election observers, or even candidates for local positions. These experiences provide valuable civic education and leadership development.

Peer Education: Young people can play crucial roles in educating their peers about electoral processes, candidate positions, and civic responsibilities. Peer-to-peer education is often more effective than adult-led civic education programs.

Technology Use: Young Ugandans are often more comfortable with technology and social media, giving them important roles in promoting accurate information sharing and countering misinformation that spreads through digital platforms.

Long-term Perspective: Young voters should consider the long-term implications of electoral choices rather than focusing solely on immediate concerns. Their voting decisions will influence Uganda's development trajectory for decades to come.

Women's Participation and Gender Considerations

Women constitute half of Uganda's population and face specific challenges that should influence electoral participation and candidate evaluation. Gender considerations are crucial for inclusive democratic participation.

Equal Participation Rights: Women have equal rights to participate in all aspects of the electoral process as voters, candidates, campaign workers, and election officials. Any attempts to limit women's electoral participation should be challenged through appropriate channels.

Gender-Responsive Policies: Women should carefully evaluate candidates' positions on issues particularly affecting women: maternal healthcare, gender-based violence prevention, women's economic empowerment, and gender equality in education and employment opportunities.

Women Candidates: The presence of women candidates for various positions provides opportunities to advance gender equality in leadership. However, women candidates should be evaluated based on their qualifications and policy positions rather than gender alone.

Family Decision-Making: In households where men traditionally make political decisions, women should assert their right to independent political choices while maintaining family harmony. Electoral choices are individual rights that cannot be legitimately controlled by others.

Economic Empowerment: Women should consider how different candidates' economic policies might affect women's economic opportunities, including access to credit, business development support, and employment in various sectors.

Safety Considerations: Women may face specific safety concerns during electoral periods, including gender-based violence or intimidation. Understanding safety precautions and available support mechanisms is important for secure participation.

Post-Election Responsibilities and Expectations

Electoral participation doesn't end with voting. Post-election responsibilities are crucial for ensuring that electoral outcomes translate into improved governance and development.

Result Acceptance: Accept official election results even if your preferred candidates don't win, while maintaining the right to pursue legal challenges through appropriate channels if you believe significant irregularities occurred.

Monitoring Elected Officials: Hold elected officials accountable for their campaign promises and performance in office. This includes monitoring their legislative voting records, development project implementation, and responsiveness to constituent concerns.

Continued Civic Engagement: Participate in ongoing civic activities such as community meetings, public forums, and development planning processes. Democracy requires active citizenship between elections, not just during electoral periods.

Constructive Opposition: If candidates you didn't support win elections, engage constructively with the new leadership while maintaining your right to criticize policies you disagree with and advocate for alternatives.

Preparation for Future Elections: Use post-election periods to evaluate the electoral process, identify improvements needed for future elections, and continue civic education activities that strengthen democratic participation.

National Unity: Contribute to national unity and reconciliation after elections by focusing on shared national interests rather than perpetuating electoral divisions. The country's development requires cooperation across political divides.

Conclusion: Your Democratic Responsibility

The 2026 elections represent a pivotal moment in Uganda's democratic journey, offering every citizen the opportunity to influence the country's direction through informed, responsible participation. As an ordinary Ugandan, your vote and civic engagement carry the power to shape policies that will affect millions of lives for years to come.

This responsibility extends beyond the simple act of voting to encompass informed decision-making, peaceful participation, respect for democratic processes, and ongoing civic engagement. The quality of Uganda's democracy depends not just on electoral mechanics but on citizens' commitment to democratic values and practices.

The choices you make during the 2026 electoral period—how you gather information, evaluate candidates, engage with fellow citizens, and participate in the democratic process—will contribute to either strengthening or weakening Uganda's democratic institutions. Your commitment to factual information over rumor, respectful dialogue over inflammatory rhetoric, and long-term national interests over short-term personal gain will help determine whether these elections advance Uganda's development or perpetuate existing challenges.

Remember that democracy is not a spectator sport. It requires active, informed, and responsible participation from every citizen. Your voice matters, your vote counts, and your civic engagement makes a difference. The future Uganda you want to see begins with the electoral choices you make and the democratic values you uphold during this crucial period.

As Uganda approaches this important electoral milestone, embrace your role as a democratic citizen with both pride and responsibility. Participate fully, engage respectfully, vote thoughtfully, and commit to the ongoing work of building a more democratic, prosperous, and united Uganda for current and future generations.

The 2026 elections are not just about choosing leaders—they're about choosing the kind of country Uganda will become. Make your choice count, make your voice heard, and make your contribution to Uganda's democratic future one that you and your fellow citizens can be proud of for years to come.