The State of Preparedness of the Electoral Commission .

This Sense-Making Seminar Paper No.2 documents the outcomes of the second seminar in the ongoing book project on Navigating Uganda’s Political Future: Tectonic Shifts, Trends, and Contestations in the 2026 Elections and Beyond. These seminars are part of a broader initiative aimed at synthesizing diverse insights into focused analyses to inform the upcoming publication. The project seeks to engage multiple stakeholders — scholars, activists, practitioners, and policymakers — in critical reflections and constructive dialogues about Uganda’s evolving political landscape.

The Navigating Uganda’s Political Future seminar series serves as an intellectual platform for documenting and analyzing key dimensions that shape Uganda’s political trajectory in the lead-up to the 2025/2026 elections. Each seminar contributes to the development of an evidence-based examination of electoral processes, governance structures, and democratic trends. Through exchanges of critical perspectives and practical insights, the seminar series builds a foundation for in-depth scholarly interventions that interrogate emerging issues and offer actionable recommendations.

This initiative comes at a time of significant political anticipation and uncertainty as Uganda prepares for the 2025/2026 general elections. The electoral cycle is not merely an event, to be judged based on what happens on and after polling-day activities, but a complex set of interrelated processes that influence the country’s governance, socio-political stability, and democratic resilience.

The ongoing seminar series explore critical thematic areas, including management of the electoral cycle, public participation, popular culture, and the socio-economic and geopolitical factors shaping Uganda’s electoral environment.

This project examines Uganda’s democratic journey in detail, providing valuable resources for researchers, policymakers, and citizens. Through these debates and insights, it contributes to a national agenda for democratic renewal. Documenting these discussions ensures that future electoral processes can benefit from evidence-based recommendations and lessons learned. This, in turn, will contribute to a culture of tolerance, constructive engagement, and inclusive democratic governance.