By Mulengera Reporters
Rt. Gen. Gregory Mugisha Muntu, the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) presidential aspirant, has secured clearance from the Electoral Commission (EC) for nomination in the 2026 general elections. Muntu received the green light late Tuesday evening, hours after EC Chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama closed the first day of nominations at Lubowa without confirming his candidacy. He is scheduled to appear for nomination today at 1:00 pm.
His clearance follows the submission of thousands of additional voter signatures to the Commission on Monday. The EC had earlier flagged serious gaps in ANT’s September 8 filings, with Byabakama noting that of the 98 districts submitted, only 48 met the legal threshold of at least 100 verified signatures per district, as required under Section 10 of the Presidential Elections Act. The remaining 50 districts fell short.
Muntu said his team addressed the gaps by submitting more than what was required. “This time around, we brought 60 districts, 10 above what they sent back. We have checked them thoroughly using party systems to ensure none will be rejected,” he said.
The former army commander also voiced frustration with what he described as a more opaque verification process compared to 2021. “Previously, a party representative could sit with the EC technical team during verification. This time, that has not been the case. We do not know what the problem is, but we will go through the process as they are doing,” Muntu added.
ANT Secretary General Alice Alaso echoed his concerns, accusing the Commission of sidelining political parties in a critical step. “If you are verifying my money in the bank, you make sure I see it. But you don’t take it behind and tell me that my one million shillings is now eight hundred thousand,” she said.
“We have brought top-up signatures for all 50 districts they said fell short, plus an extra 11 districts. And we are still collecting more, just in case they raise another issue.” The EC has long argued that repeated disqualifications often stem from supporters signing for multiple candidates, which slows down verification.
On Monday, EC deputy spokesperson Paul Bukenya told Uganda Radio Network that “several aspiring presidential candidates are still struggling with the signature hurdle,” warning that the deadline is tight. Muntu’s nomination will make him the latest addition to a growing field of candidates seeking to challenge incumbent President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in the 2026 general election.
