The Electoral Commission has launched the Strategic Plan 2022/2023-2026/2027 and Roadmap for the 2025/2026 General Elections.
EC Chairperson, Justice Simon Byabakama Mugenyi, said the Strategic Plan and Roadmap are designed to enable phased funding of elections, which reduces funding pressure on government and facilitates EC to conduct the elections smoothly. The Plan provides clear communication of priority areas key milestones in the election cycle.
“The Commission appeals to the Government to consider and approve the creation of new administrative units in a timely manner, so that the electoral program and budget are not destabilized. When this is not done, the impact on our preparations, particularly on the demarcation of electoral areas, re-organization of polling stations, and voter education is enormous,” he said.
The Electoral Commission Secretary, Leonard Mulekwah said they expect the nomination of candidates for President to take place between 2nd October and 3rd October 2025. This is in line with the Presidential Elections Act.
“Demarcation of the electoral areas should be done by July 2024. We should have general update of the National Voters’ Register by January 2025,” he said.
The Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Norbert Mao, said the issues raised such as the need to enact laws to enable the elections are very vital.
“The EC has been lamenting about civic education. I would want us to focus on civic education. The citizens are the nursery beds for leaders because leaders are picked from citizens. We need to make sure our citizens have civic education,” he said.
Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, who presided over the launch, urged all stakeholders to carefully examine all the timelines as outlined in the Roadmap, and work with the Electoral Commission to smoothly implement the electoral roadmap for 2025/2026 general elections.