The Electoral Commission (EC) has launched elections for Special Interest Groups (SIGs) at the sub-county level across Uganda, starting with polls for older persons aged 60 and above.
EC spokesperson Julius Mucunguzi confirmed that the week-long exercise will cover all sub-counties, divisions, and town councils. Elections for persons with disabilities are scheduled for Wednesday, July 16, while youth elections will take place on Friday, July 18.
“These elections are being conducted by lining up behind the candidate, their agent, portrait, or symbol,” Mucunguzi explained. “Only individuals already elected at parish level are eligible to vote at this sub-county stage.”
The elections are part of a structured process that ensures SIGs—including older persons, persons with disabilities, and youth—are represented from the village level up to the national level. Committees elected at sub-county level will later form electoral colleges responsible for voting Members of Parliament representing these groups.
Mucunguzi urged all participants to maintain peace and adhere to EC guidelines. “We call on all actors in the electoral process to respect one another, follow the law, and use digital platforms responsibly,” he said.
The Commission also warned against the spread of hate speech, fake news, and disinformation, emphasizing that the elections must be conducted in a civil and lawful manner.
“These elections are a constitutional process under Article One of the 1995 Constitution. They are not a do-or-die affair,” Mucunguzi stressed. “Let us remember: your vote is your voice.”
