By Angel Lubowa
Kampala
The official campaigns for the 2026 Parliamentary and Local Government elections have commenced November, Monday 10th, 2025 to catch up with the Presidential campaigns which is on going but voters morale remains low.
Today as you campaigns go on you are likely to meet people saying what’s happening in the political theatre is not bothering them as they go about their daily business.
Some others say they have given up on politics , with some saying of late winners are predictable while some accuse political actors of not being serious, corrupt or seeking personal gains.
A simple sample survey done by this online Media in Kampala but interviewing voters from various parts of the country indicated that the morale was low and many of them nearly said they may not vote or still undecided.
Out of the 50 respondents interviewed about 18 people promised they will not vote, 9 voters said they were not bothered about the political season which is on going but they will vote, 4 said they are undecided but about 25 said they knew who was likely to win the Presidential polls while 32 said they will fully participate in the Presidential , Parliamentary and Local Government elections.
But what stood out significantly among all respondents was that their morale seemed very low.
A look at past polls indicate that voters turn up has been varrying with some increase and decrease at various elections perhaps out of the voters curiosity and morale given the circumstances.
In 2021, for example, for example, voters turn up was 59.2 percent. Whereas the total registered voters were 18,157,960 only 10,744,319.
In 2016,the turn up was 67.61 percent. The registered voters were 15,277,198. In 2011 , the turn up was 59.29 percent. The registered voters were 13,954,129. In 2006 the voters turn up was 69.19 percent. The registered voters were 10,450,788. In 2001 the voters turn up was 70.31 percent. The number of registered voters was 19,775,836. In 1996 the voters turn up was 72.58 percent. The registered voters were 8,492,154.
According to the Uganda Electoral Commission, eight candidates are vying for the post of the president whose winner must atleast get over 51 percent of the total votes.
Then a total of 2,025 candidates were nominated to contest for 353 constituencies for directly elected members of parliament while 640 candidates are competing for the 146 district and city woman representatives.
In addition, 521 candidates were cleared to contest for the 146 district and city chairperson positions.
There are also candidates vying for city mayorship, municipality, and divisional mayorship as well as councillorship at levels of cities, municipalities, divisions and sub counties.
The all estimated total of candidates is about 83,597.
Despite all this candidates population a section of the would be voters seems uninterested.
” I no longer trust elections. What the candidates promise is not what they do at the end of the day. Yet others just ask for positions they cannot manage. There is also rigging where the assumed winner is not the one announced, ” said one respondent .
As the campaigns start the EC has urged all candidates to carry out a clean campaign process.
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