By BM
Uganda’s 2026 election cycle just got a major shake-up. In a move that has political players recalibrating fast, the Electoral Commission has moved up the start of presidential campaigns by nearly a week, shifting the date from October 4 to September 29.
The surprise announcement came not in a press release but live, on the manicured lawns of the EC’s brand-new, custom-built headquarters in Lweza–Lubowa, which was formally unveiled today in a high-security, high-attendance launch event.
Presided over by Justice Simon Byabakama, the event drew a constellation of senior officials, including the Minister for Works and Transport General Katumba Wamala, who headlined as chief guest.
While the Commission framed the date shift as a matter of logistics, the political undercurrents were hard to miss: the calendar has been flipped, and the game has officially begun.
More than a building, the Lweza complex is now the new nerve center of Uganda’s electoral process.
From presidential nominations (slated for September 23–24) to the final tallying of votes, every pivotal moment of the 2026 elections will run through these sleek, state-funded corridors.
In his address, Byabakama positioned the site as the future of Uganda’s democratic infrastructure, a permanent home for the Commission and a symbol of institutional maturity.
He credited the government for fully funding the acquisition, signaling a political priority placed on fortifying electoral operations.
The real politik wasn’t far behind. Gen. Wamala revealed that the relocation from Kitgum House was necessitated by impending construction on Lot Two of the Kampala Flyover, but reminded the nation that as the political tempo rises, peace and security remain paramount.
Also on the agenda: tight new rules for nomination day. Each presidential candidate will be restricted to two vehicles and a maximum of 19 supporters’ on-site, part of what the Commission says is an effort to maintain order and control during a politically charged process.
The handover of the property from National Housing’s Eng. Kenneth Kaijuka to the Electoral Commission was made official with a signed certificate, cementing Lweza not just as a venue, but as the beating heart of Uganda’s electoral engine.
With nominations less than a week away and the campaign calendar fast-tracked, Uganda’s political class now has one message ringing in their ears: the race is on and it’s moving faster than anyone expected. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
