As the nomination of parliamentary aspirants draws near, the Electoral Commission (EC) has cautioned all individuals seeking to contest for parliamentary seats to prepare adequately and ensure they meet all legal and procedural requirements before presenting themselves for nomination.
EC spokesperson Julius Mucunguzi said the nomination exercise for parliamentary aspirants will be conducted at district Electoral Commission offices on October 22 and 23, while nominations for representatives of persons with disabilities and youth will take place at the Commission’s headquarters in Kampala.
Mucunguzi emphasized that all aspirants must have obtained and completed nomination forms, which are available through the EC’s online platforms. “No individual will be granted special consideration if they fail to meet the necessary requirements,” he said.
According to Mucunguzi, every parliamentary aspirant must have completed Advanced Level (Senior Six) education, be a registered voter, and have valid endorsements supporting their candidacy.
He further reminded aspirants that they should not be accompanied by more than 20 supporters during the nomination process, and public rallies or processions will only be allowed after the official campaign period begins next month.
He also cautioned political parties against issuing new nomination cards or stamps that could invalidate or confuse earlier endorsements made by other candidates.
However, Robert Centenary, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) deputy chairperson for Western Uganda, accused the Commission of lacking transparency, alleging that it had changed registration procedures without proper communication to political parties.
In response, Mucunguzi reiterated that the Commission will strictly enforce electoral laws throughout the process, warning that any aspirant or political party that violates nomination or campaign guidelines — including holding rallies in unauthorized places — risks disqualification.
Under Uganda’s electoral laws, any citizen who has completed Advanced Level education is eligible to contest for a parliamentary seat in any constituency of their choice, regardless of birthplace or residence.
