By KT Reporter
National Peasant Party’s (NPP) aspirant, Robert Kasibante, has been successfully nominated by the Electoral Commission as a presidential candidate in the 2026 general election.
Kasibante was nominated by the Electoral Commission (EC) Chairperson, Justice Simon Byabakama, following the verification of his documents. Some of the required documents are a minimum of the Advanced Level of Education, a filled nomination paper, a declaration by the aspirant consenting to nomination, the aspirant being a registered voter, as well as his or her seconders, photographs, and others.
“We have scrutinised and verified the nomination papers as presented by aspirant Kasibante Robert, and we have found he meets all criteria as prescribed in law,” Justice Byabakama noted, before declaring the aspirant as a duly nominated presidential candidate.
Byabakama tasked Kasibante to appoint an official agent who would coordinate his campaign meeting and media program and also attend meetings on his behalf, where necessary. Secondly, the EC Chairperson tasked the nominated candidate to provide the Commission with a schedule of his campaign meetings and media program as soon as practicable to facilitate the smooth harmonisation of all the candidates’ campaign programs countrywide.
The Commission also notified Kasibante that he would be required to sign a memorandum of understanding with EC on compliance with the harmonised campaign programs and timelines.
Kasibante also received a security vehicle and 16 Counter-Terrorism police officers, as part of his security detail for the campaign period that starts on 29th September 2025.
In his address to journalists, Kasibante described his forthcoming campaign as one built on purpose and not promises.
“Our government will be built on the struggles of the people. We must break the walls of inequality. We must restore dignity to labour. We must eliminate corruption. Our agenda also constitutes land reforms so that people are protected from illegal evictions and land grabbing,” said Kasibante.
The presidential candidate also promised free quality education for all children, as well as youth empowerment programs rooted in skills training.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission also nominated the Conservative Party (CP) aspirate, Joseph Mabirizi, who had earlier failed to pass the nomination test, over questionable academic credentials.
Mabirizi was nominated 30 minutes before the closure of activities on the first day of presidential nominations.
Byabakama noted that on his return, Mabirizi had satisfied all the other requirements as per the Presidential Election Act. He accordingly nominated him and equally presented him with the security detail for protection during the presidential campaign.
“When I first stood in 2016, I carried out mock elections, which were meant to open the eyes of the government that the people were tired. I didn’t succeed then because of the little time we were given. I have since traversed the country and built capacity so that Ugandans can rise against any person who is against their Constitutional rights,” Mabirizi told journalists.
He also promised that in his first 100 days after the election, he would ensure that all political prisoners are released and reduce the number of government Ministers to only 17. Uganda currently has 32 Cabinet Ministers and 50 Ministers of State.
At the closure of the first day of nomination, three presidential candidates had been declared by the electoral body. The nomination process continues tomorrow, Wednesday, 24th September, and shall officially close at 4:00 pm.
Some of the aspirants expected for nomination on the closing day are National Unity Platform’s (NUP), Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, the aspirant for Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), Nathan Nandala Mafabi, among others.
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