Independent candidates vying in Uganda’s 2026 general elections will now be able to choose unique campaign symbols sanctioned by the Electoral Commission (EC), making them easily distinguishable from contestants backed by political parties.
According to Ntungamo District Returning Officer, Latif Ngonzi, the move is meant to give independents fair visibility on the ballot. “Every political party has its own emblem. Independent candidates equally need symbols that voters can identify with,” he explained.
The EC has released a catalogue of familiar household and community items that aspirants may select from. These include a ball, banana, boat, book, borehole, candle, car, chair, clock, coffee, cup, hose, jerrycan, kettle, megaphone, pot, radio, saucepan, table, and television.
Ngonzi added that the chosen items can carry symbolic meaning for the candidates. “For instance, one might pick a table to represent dialogue and problem-solving, while another may choose a radio or coffee to reflect their vision,” he noted.
In Uganda, symbols play an important role during elections, particularly in rural communities and among voters with low literacy levels, where pictorial cues are more effective than written names.
While political organisations such as NRM, NUP, FDC, DP, PPP, and UPC will continue to use their registered emblems, independents must now select from the EC’s approved list to appear on the ballot.
