In a bid to bolster preparations for the upcoming 2026 general elections, the Parliament of Uganda has recommended a substantial increase in funding for the Electoral Commission (EC), amounting to shs 765.62 billion for the first phase of election activities.
This decision follows the government’s allocation of only shs 8.638 billion to the EC in its 2024/25 budget, resulting in a significant funding gap of shs 756.988 billion. The EC emphasized to Members of Parliament the critical nature of funding the first phase activities, warning that failure to do so could disrupt the electoral timeline, as many activities are bound by statutory deadlines and must proceed chronologically.
In addition to funding for election activities, Parliament also advocated for an increase in the salaries of EC staff by an additional shs 11.16 billion, aiming to alleviate concerns and anxiety among the workforce. This recommendation builds upon a previous resolution dating back to 2017, which mandated the implementation of enhanced remuneration for EC staff effective from the 2017/18 fiscal year.
Despite partial releases from the Ministry of Finance totaling shs 25.91 billion, the third and final installment of shs 11.16 billion earmarked for salary enhancement remains outstanding.
The proposed budget for the Electoral Commission for the current financial year is set to increase to shs 149.61 billion, with allocations of shs 38.39 billion for salaries, shs 107.503 billion for non-wage expenditure, and shs 3.72 billion for development expenditure. These budgetary adjustments aim to ensure adequate resources for the EC to fulfill its mandate and conduct free, fair, and transparent elections in 2026
