The first ballot papers for Uganda’s 2026 General Elections have begun rolling off the presses, marking one of the most consequential steps in the nation’s election cycle. Inside a secured printing facility on the outskirts of Kampala, the mechanical hum of industrial printers filled the air this week as technicians fed the initial sheets lined with candidate names, symbols, and photographs into high-speed machines.
Election officials describe this moment as pivotal. The Electoral Commission has confirmed that 2,025 candidates are vying for the 353 directly elected parliamentary seats, alongside 640 aspirants contesting for the 146 District and City Woman MP positions. In total, 2,665 parliamentary contenders will be on the ballot an unusually large field that underscores the country’s elevated political energy.
These figures are only a fraction of the broader electoral terrain. Nationwide, the Commission has cleared 83,597 candidates for 45,505 elective positions, from Parliament to local councils. The EC has termed this scale “unprecedented,” prompting an accelerated printing schedule to ensure every logistical requirement is met ahead of the January 15, 2026 polling date.
An Industrial Ballet Behind Closed Doors
Inside the printing hall, designers and technicians hovered over digital consoles as they adjusted intricate layout files. Many constituencies particularly in Kampala, Wakiso, Mukono, and parts of the Lango Sub-region feature unusually long lists of candidates. In Kampala alone, 113 parliamentary candidates are competing for just 10 seats, creating dense ballot formats that require additional design considerations to preserve clarity for voters.
The Commission has layered the process with tight security. Each batch of printed ballots undergoes verification checks before being sealed and prepared for district-level distribution. Election officials note that beginning early allows for careful transport, storage, and final quality assurance without the pressure of last-minute timelines.
“Printing is central to our election calendar,” said Paul Bukenya, spokesperson for the Electoral Commission. “With so many elective levels and candidates, accuracy and timeliness are paramount. This phase ensures we remain ahead of schedule.”
A Quiet but Symbolic Turning Point
Although far removed from the campaign trail, the printing stage carries profound significance. For many Ugandans, these first sheets of ballot paper are the earliest tangible evidence that election season has fully arrived. What begins as ink on paper will soon become the instrument through which millions shape the composition of the next Parliament and local leadership.
In the quiet rhythm of the printing presses, a national transition is taking shape, steady, methodical, and deeply consequential. As stacks of freshly printed ballots continue to rise, the Electoral Commission says its priorities remain unchanged: precision, security, and nationwide readiness.
With thousands of candidates and millions of voters preparing for a high-stakes democratic exercise, Uganda’s march toward Election Day has officially entered its next chapter quiet inside the printing halls, but powerful in its national importance.
