Kampala, Uganda: The Uganda Police Force has announced tough traffic and security measures ahead of the 2026 presidential nominations scheduled for Tuesday, September 23, and Wednesday, September 24, 2025, at the Electoral Commission (EC) headquarters in Lweza, Kampala.
The guidelines, unveiled at a press briefing on Monday by SCP Michael Kananura, PRO of the Directorate of Traffic and Road Safety, are designed to prevent the chaos and gridlock that marred the 2021 nomination exercise as the country gears up for the January 12, 2026 general election.
High-profile contenders, including incumbent President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), and opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu of the National Unity Platform (NUP), are expected to draw huge crowds of supporters, prompting heightened police deployment across the capital.
Anticipating large crowds, the Uganda Police Force has placed emphasis on road safety and maintaining order to prevent disruptions in the capital and surrounding areas.
During the press briefing on Monday, September 22, 2025, at the police headquarters in Naguru, SCP Kananura Michael, PRO Directorate of Traffic and Road Safety, outlined key directives to ensure smooth traffic flow and public safety, among which include;
Road closures and diversions: Beginning 5 a.m. Tuesday, sections of Nakawa, Port Bell Road, and Jinja Road will be closed. Traffic will be diverted at Spear Motors, Banda, and Kireka Trading Centre, with motorists advised to use the Kampala–Jinja Highway bypass or Lugogo bypass.
Ban on large convoys: Candidates are restricted to five vehicles per motorcade, subject to police approval. Unauthorized convoys, sirens, or escort vehicles will face fines of up to Shs1 million and vehicle impoundment under the Traffic and Road Safety Act of 1998.
Crowd and pedestrian control: Temporary barriers will be erected around nomination venues. Pedestrians must stick to designated walkways, while boda-boda riders and matatu operators will be strictly policed against reckless driving and overloading.
Public transport compliance: Taxis and buses must follow designated routes and avoid stopping near nomination sites.
Kananura warned that police would not tolerate “actions that endanger lives or disrupt public order,” confirming that 150 officers trained in election traffic and crowd management had been deployed. A 24-hour command center will provide real-time traffic updates via social media and radio, while motorists are urged to use navigation apps for alternative routes.
The EC requires presidential aspirants to submit over 9,800 signatures from at least 98 districts, with campaigns officially starting on October 4, 2025. Police has cautioned Kampala residents to avoid unnecessary travel near the EC headquarters during the two-day event and warned violators of arrests or fines, particularly for “hooliganism” likely to paralyze major arteries.
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