The Electoral Commission has clarified strict deadlines by which public servants must resign their government jobs if they intend to contest in the 2026 general elections.
The announcement comes as the Commission intensifies preparations for a credible and transparent electoral process.
Electoral Commission Chairperson Simon Byabakama emphasized the importance of these deadlines during a press briefing updating the public on the elections of Special Interest Groups (SIGs) Committees and the broader 2025/2026 election roadmap.
“Public officers or any government employees who wish to stand for elective office must resign within the legally prescribed timelines before nomination day,” Byabakama stated.
He outlined the deadlines as follows: candidates for Special Interest Groups committees must resign by April 28, 2025; Members of Parliament by June 13, 2025; local government councilors by August 2, 2025; and presidential aspirants by October 1, 2025.
Byabakama warned that failure to comply will lead to disqualification.
“A person shall not be regarded as duly nominated, and their nomination paper will be declared void if they have not resigned within these timelines,” he said.
Furthermore, candidates must present proof of resignation to the Returning Officer at the time of nomination.
The Chairperson also revisited other nomination requirements, notably the verification of academic qualifications.
“All candidates must establish their academic qualifications with the Electoral Commission at least two months before nomination day,” Byabakama said.
This process involves verification by the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) and the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB).
In this context, Byabakama clarified a common misconception: “The Electoral Commission shall not accept a Statutory Declaration or an Affidavit as evidence of an academic qualification.”
A Statutory Declaration and an Affidavit are formal written statements sworn before a legal authority, usually used to declare facts.
However, the EC requires official academic certificates or verification documents issued by NCHE and UNEB, rather than sworn statements, to prove educational qualifications.
This ensures authenticity and prevents fraud.
Candidates who fail to meet these academic verification requirements risk having their nomination invalidated.
Byabakama also stressed that candidates who had previously verified their academic qualifications in earlier elections must undergo re-verification to meet current legal standards.
The Electoral Commission continues its roadmap activities as Uganda approaches the general elections.
The enforcement of these resignation deadlines and academic verification rules underscores the Commission’s commitment to a credible, lawful electoral process that upholds transparency and public trust.