Building confidence for 2026 Elections

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OPINION

By Paul Bugoye

As Uganda approaches its next general election, the nation’s confidence will be measured not just at the ballot box, but by how well we learn from our own history.

Trust in the process thrives when rules are clear, electoral bodies act independently, and information is accessible to all.

Confidence in Uganda’s electoral process began to waver around the 1980 elections, a turning point that revealed vulnerabilities in transparency, fairness, and public trust.

In my view, these lessons remain strategically important today, highlighting the need for clear rules, independent oversight, and accessible information to ensure that the upcoming election strengthens and does not undermine national confidence.

A Daily Monitor special report on July 21, 2020, revisited the 1980 elections, highlighting the twists and controversies that nearly derailed the process, while a recent New Vision article on August 9, 2025, showed that concerns over insecurity remain high, with 55.4% of respondents citing it as a top worry ahead of the 2026 polls, underscoring those lessons from past elections, particularly on transparency and stability, remain crucial today.

In response to concerns about electoral insecurity, both the Government of Uganda and the Electoral Commission have implemented several measures to enhance the integrity and safety of the 2026 general elections.

I’m genuinely impressed by the current efforts of the Electoral Commission in promoting inclusive representation by facilitating elections for Special Interest Groups like the youth, persons with disabilities, and older persons and conducting nationwide voter education campaigns to inform citizens of their rights and responsibilities.

They have also launched a comprehensive roadmap to ensure transparency in the electoral process, including voter registration timelines and candidate nominations

The Government is strengthening election security by deploying additional personnel to protect voters and polling stations, proposing legal amendments to deter electoral misconduct, and engaging political parties and civil society in dialogue to promote a peaceful and credible electoral process.

These measures reflect a concerted effort by both the Government of Uganda and the Electoral Commission to address past challenges and build public trust in the electoral process ahead of the 2026 general elections.

As Uganda prepares for the 2026 general elections, the lessons of the past are more important now than ever. From the controversies of 1980 to current concerns over security and transparency, the nation’s confidence in its democratic process depends on clear rules, independent oversight, and active citizen engagement.

With the government and Electoral Commission taking concrete steps to address these challenges, the upcoming elections present an opportunity not just to cast ballots but to reaffirm trust in Uganda’s democracy and demonstrate that a well-informed, secure, and transparent process can strengthen the nation for generations to come.

The writer is an MBA student at Makerere University Business School (MUBS)