As Uganda heads to the polls on Thursday, President Museveni has declared a two-day public holiday to allow voters ample time to participate in the presidential and parliamentary elections.
In a statutory instrument issued under the Public Holidays Act (Cap 174), the President exercised powers under Section 2(2) of the Act to declare polling day and the following day, Friday, as public holidays.
The declaration is intended to ease voter movement and ensure that eligible Ugandans can cast their ballots without pressure from work or official duties.
President Museveni, who is also the National Resistance Movement (NRM) presidential candidate, said the decision was aimed at promoting broad civic participation in the General Election, which will determine the country’s next president and Members of Parliament for the 2026–2031 term.
Voters will choose from eight presidential candidates, including the incumbent Mr Museveni, National Unity Platform (NUP) leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) candidate Nathan Nandala Mafabi, and Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) flag bearer Gen Mugisha Muntu.
The other contenders are Elton Joseph Mabirizi of the Conservative Party (CP), Mubarak Munyagwa of the Common Man’s Party, Robert Kasibante of the National Peasants’ Party (NPP), and Frank Bulira of the Revolutionary People’s Party (RPP).
The move has been welcomed by sections of the public, who say it underscores the importance of civic participation and promotes a calm and orderly voting process. Prof Sabiti Makara, a political analyst, said the public holiday would enable voters to exercise their constitutional right without work-related constraints.
“Many Ugandans are registered to vote in areas different from where they work or reside. The two-day public holiday gives them sufficient time to travel, vote, and return without pressure,” Prof Makara said.
He added that declaring election day a public holiday is common practice in many countries and could significantly boost voter turnout, especially among workers in both the public and private sectors.
The Electoral Commission (EC) has repeatedly urged voters to turn up in large numbers, while security agencies have assured the public of safety before, during, and after the polls.
According to the EC, about 21.6 million registered voters are expected to participate in the elections across various categories. Ms Evas Turinawe, a civil servant from Bushenyi District, welcomed the announcement, saying it would allow her to travel home to vote and return to work without anxiety.
“I encourage all registered voters to take advantage of this opportunity and exercise their right to vote so that their voices can be heard,” she said.
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