The Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) has set a bold new tone for 2026. Anyone eyeing the party’s presidential flag must first pay a hefty Shs 20 million nomination fee — no exceptions.
Hajji Kazimbiraine Mahmoud, the UPC Electoral Commission Chairman, delivered the news without mincing words.
“If you can’t raise Shs 20 million, how will you fund a campaign that costs over Shs 20 billion nationwide?” he challenged aspiring candidates during the unveiling of the party’s election roadmap.
In Uganda’s high-stakes political arena, it’s clear: passion alone won’t cut it. You must be financially armed to survive the battle.
High Stakes: Pay Before You Play
Under UPC’s newly released guidelines, the Shs 20 million must be wired directly to the party’s account before nomination papers are accepted. Picking the form is free. Returning it? That’s another matter.
“Don’t fear to pick the form,” Kazimbiraine quipped. “But to return it, you must be loaded.”
UPC leadership defends the steep fee, arguing it filters for serious contenders — those capable of financing the grueling, billion-shilling campaign trail from Kampala to Karamoja.
The message is unapologetic: If you’re counting coins, you’re not ready for State House.
Fees Across the Board: From MPs to Councillors
It’s not just presidential aspirants feeling the financial squeeze. UPC has also rolled out nomination fees for other positions:
- Members of Parliament: Shs 1 million
- City Mayors: Shs 1 million
- LCV Chairpersons: Shs 500,000
- Division Mayors: Shs 200,000
- LCIV Councillors: Shs 100,000
- Other Local Councillors: Shs 20,000 and below
From the top down to the grassroots, money is now an unavoidable passport to political participation.
Grassroots Renewal or Elitist Shift?
These developments come as UPC pushes a larger strategy: rebuild from the bottom up. The party is actively registering members, holding branch elections, and preparing for primaries ahead of the 2026 general polls.
Still, not everyone is cheering. Some party youth leaders worry the high fees will lock out young, energetic candidates without big wallets.
“This is turning into a rich man’s club. Where are the young voices supposed to come from?” one youth leader, requesting anonymity, asked.
UPC leadership, however, seems unfazed. Their stance: political survival demands serious financial muscle.
The Road Ahead
UPC primaries will unfold between May and August 2025. Presidential nominations kick off at grassroots and district levels, culminating in a national party election on July 30, 2025.
Primaries for MPs, local leaders, and special groups will follow through July and August. Flag bearers are expected to be declared by mid-August — just in time for the likely storm of electoral petitions.
Kazimbiraine summed it up bluntly: “This is a journey we have started. It is the members that will shape the party they want.”
Whether UPC is building a modern, resilient force or sliding into the trap of big-money politics remains the looming question.
