KEYNOTE ADDRESS BY THE CHAIRPERSON, ELECTORAL COMMISSION, AT THE NATIONAL STAKEHOLDERS’ WORKSHOP IN PREPARATION FOR ELECTIONS OF SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS (SIGS) COMMITTEES FOR THE 2025/2026 GENERAL ELECTIONS,
WEDNESDAY 11TH JUNE 2025
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1. Introduction
On behalf of the Electoral Commission, I welcome you all to this national stakeholders’ workshop in preparation for the elections of Special Interest Groups (SIGS) Committees for the 2025/2026 General Elections.
I thank the Almighty God for according you journey mercies to this national workshop venue.
As the Commission, we value these engagements, because working with our stakeholders is a core element of our Strategic Plan. It enables us to share with, and update you, about the progress we are making implementing the Roadmap to the 2025/2026 General Elections, and to seek your views and inputs.
The Electoral Commission, as you know, is established under Article 60 of the 1995 Constitution of the Republic of Uganda (as amended), with the mandate under Article 61 of the same Constitution, to ensure, among others, that regular, free and fair elections and referenda are held.
Further, the 1995 Constitution provides for affirmative action under Article 32 in favour of groups marginalized based on gender, age, disability, or any other reason created by history, tradition, or custom, for redressing imbalances which exist against them.
It is this provision that forms the basis for conducting elections for leaders for Special Interest Groups.
Ladies and gentlemen, you may recall that on 2nd August 2023, the Electoral Commission launched its Strategic Plan 2022/2023-2026/2027 and the Roadmap for the 2025/2026 General Elections. The Roadmap was revised in July 2024, with minor adjustments. The Roadmap indicated the timeframes for conducting various electoral activities, including elections of Special Interest Groups (SIGs) Committees.
I wish to update you that since July last year, the following key activities have been successfully undertaken.
a. The nationwide demarcation of Local Government Council Electoral Areas;
b. The re-organisation of polling stations countrywide, which was undertaken to enable voters to conveniently cast their votes, by ensuring adequate space at polling stations as well as a manageable number of voters per polling station;
c. The identification and mapping of PWDs on the National Voters Register (NVR). This was undertaken as a measure to ensure that the entire electoral process is as inclusive as possible, and conducted under conditions of freedom and fairness to, among others, enable Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) to vote without any hindrance;
d. The recruitment and deployment of temporary election officials, namely, Sub County Election Supervisors (2,300 positions) and Parish/Ward Election Supervisor (10,717 positions);
e. The commencement of processes to procure various goods and services that are required for the conduct of the 2025/2026 General Elections. This is being done to ensure compliance with timeframes following PPDA requirements and the overall elections budget;
f. Continuous stakeholder engagement including voter education, to achieve mass awareness and hence an informed and supportive stakeholder base.
g. The General Update of the National Voters Register and Registers for Special Interest Groups (Youths; Persons with Disabilities, and Older Persons):
h. The nationwide Display of the National Voters Register and Registers for Special Interest Groups (SIGs);
As stakeholders, I thank you for the various roles you have played during the above critical stages of implementation of the electoral roadmap. This is a sign of deep commitment to the aspiration of the Commission and all Ugandans to achieve a credible electoral exercise in 2025/2026. I call on you to continue working with us, building on the successes so far registered, as we now handle the more challenging activities ahead.
The representation of Special Interest Groups in Parliament, that is, Youth, Older Persons, Persons with Disabilities, Workers, and the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF), is a distinctive feature of our Constitution, and the process by which they are elected is equally unique.
Hence, this workshop aims to bring you all on board, and to deepen your knowledge and appreciation of your roles, rights, duties and responsibilities to ensure successful elections of SIGs Committees, specifically the following categories, which progress from the village level to the national level:
a. Youths;
b. Persons with Disabilities (PWDs); and,
c. Older Persons.
The presentations in the technical papers will provide detailed guidance on the specific areas that relate to these elections. I believe these presentations and the subsequent plenary discussions will generate deeper knowledge and practical value for all of us. This will, in turn, enable us to execute our responsibilities as critical stakeholders in the electoral processes.
As the Commission has always said and emphasized, a credible, peaceful, free and fair electoral process, is the responsibility of not only the Commission, but all stakeholders involved.
2. Election of SIGs Committees
Friends, the implementation of the Roadmap for the 2025/2026 General Elections is now at a critical stage, with the issuance of the programme for elections of SIGs Committees from the Village to the National Level, as you will see from the detailed summary programme, which has been posted on the commission website and social media platforms.
The elections of SIGs Committees from Village to National Level, started with the nomination of candidates, which commenced on Monday, 2nd June, 2025 and was concluded yesterday, Tuesday, 10th June, 2025.
The purpose of these upcoming elections is:
a) To obtain members of the Youth; PWD and Older Persons Committees at the following levels
i) The Parish/Ward level;
ii) The Sub county/Town Council/Division/Municipality/City Division;
iii) The District/City Council level;
b) To obtain electoral college members for the election of representatives of the Youth; PWDs, and Older Persons in Local Government Councils;
c) To obtain electoral college members for the election of representatives of the Youth, PWDs, and Older Persons in Parliament;
d) The SIGs Committees are also responsible for co-ordinating and monitoring the implementation of policies and programmes for their respective administrative units, and, to;
e) Liaise with the Government on the needs, challenges, and other issues affecting Youth, PWDs, and Older Persons, for planning purposes, among others.
3. Conclusion
The Commission appeals to all stakeholders to support this exercise through enthusiastic participation and by following the guidelines that have been issued for this exercise.
The Commission has commenced sensitisation and mobilisation of the public through the media and strategic engagements to enhance stakeholder participation. We call upon you all, to support these efforts by mobilizing people within your circles of influence to fully participate in these processes.
I wish to emphasise that the Special Interest Groups (SIGs) Elections are the first set of elections in the 2025/2026 General Elections cycle. As the Commission, we commit to delivering these elections with transparency, professionalism, and impartiality.
We call upon you, as stakeholders, to reciprocate by conducting yourselves peacefully, lawfully and turn up in big numbers too, and exercise your right to elect your leaders from the grass root level to the national level.
I wish also to emphasise that, upholding the values of transparency, tolerance, respect for diverse political views, and respect of human rights, will strengthen the integrity of our electoral processes and foster public confidence in the outcomes of the elections we organize and conduct.
I thank you for listening to me and now declare this Workshop open.
For God and my Country,
Justice Byabakama Mugenyi Simon
Chairperson, Electoral Commission