Africa-Press – Uganda. Former Kawempe South MP Mubarak Munyagwa has urged the Electoral Commission to revise the rules governing the registration of political parties and the nomination of candidates for national office.
Munyagwa said the current system, which requires at least 100 signatures to register a political party, places an unfair financial and logistical burden on opposition groups. He noted that independent candidates are subjected to the same demand, which he described as discriminatory.
“For a political party to be registered, we need 100 signatures. Opposition parties often lack the financial resources to meet these requirements. Independent candidates are also asked for signatures, which is unfair,” Munyagwa said.
He proposed that the Commission should replace the signature requirement with a non-refundable nomination fee for presidential contenders, arguing that this would provide a more effective test of seriousness.
“The Electoral Commission should instead set a non-refundable fee for serious presidential contenders. Contesting for a national position should be treated with seriousness, it’s not something to be approached lightly or dramatically,” he added.
According to Munyagwa, introducing a fee would ease the logistical challenges of collecting signatures across different districts while ensuring that only candidates with genuine commitment and preparation enter the race.
His remarks come as political parties and civil society groups continue to call for reforms in Uganda’s electoral framework ahead of the 2026 general elections.
The debate has focused on whether current rules favor established political players at the expense of emerging parties and independents.
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