2026 POLLS! EC embarks on 3rd Phase Election of Special Interest Groups

By Evans Najuna

Kampala – All is set and everything is ripe moving forward for general elections come 2026. As we talk the Uganda Independent Electoral Commission has this week embarked on the third phase of Electing of Special interest groups (SIGs) in the whole country.
According to Electoral Commission Spokesperson Julius Mucunguzi, the 3rd phase of these elections will take place at Sub-County/ Division or Gombolora level in the whole Country. In correspondence with EC roadmap, the exercise began today the 14th July with the first exercise of electing committees of elder person that are above 60 years of age. And on Wednesday the 16th July, there will be elections committees of people with disabilities (PWDs) also at the Sub-County level/Division/Gombolora level. This will be followed by elections of youths committee at the same level on 18th.
In accordance with the law, these committees are elected by participants who formed an electoral colleges all the way from parish level. That’s the people who were successful at the parish level committees to be representatives in respective Sub-Counties/Divisions/Town councils or Gomboloras. Mucunguzi explained that, this means these groups of people/ committees at Sub-County level will meet and elect among themselves the committee to represent them at the respective Sub-Counties/Decision/Town council or Gomboloras. Accordingly these elections are by lining up –Voters will line up behind candidate of the candidates of their choice or agent of their candidate of choice or portrait of candidates of their choice or symbols of candidates of their choice.
The electoral body has since emphasised that these elections are ment to ensure that Special Interest Groups receive representation in their special nature from the village to all levels of leadership up to National level which later constitutes Electoral college that will elect members of parliament for these SIGs.

Speaking with our reporter on Monday morning, the EC spokesperson further explained that as the commission, their key messages to the whole country from bottom upwards are that; electrolytes need to maintain peace during these elections and be law abiding during the exercise, the commission requests all participate to follow guidelines of electoral commission, ensure that everyone is a participating in the election respects, treat each other with respect. The Commission reminds all participants in the exercise using Digital or social media platforms in a constructive manner that doesn’t/ do not use it to spread hate speech, fake news, or misinform the public. “We need peaceful elections in the country” Mucunguzi added. He emphasised that elections is not a do or die and we’re set by 1995 Constitution of Uganda for the people of Uganda to exercise their power positively in Article 1 to elect and choose leaders at all stages of representation. Adding that let’s keep peace in these elections. “Your vote is your voice” Mucunguzi said.