The Electoral Commission (EC) has released a new directive for aspirants planning to participate in the 2025/2026 general elections, stressing the importance of verifying their academic credentials prior to the nomination period.
In a statement, the EC emphasized that candidates vying for positions such as president, Members of Parliament, and local government roles must possess at least an Advanced Level (A-Level) certificate or its equivalent.
“For those who obtained the said qualifications or higher outside Uganda, they are required to have their qualifications verified by the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE), in consultation with the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB), and obtain a certificate issued by NCHE to that effect,” said EC chairperson, Justice Simon Byabakama.
He further explained that candidates holding qualifications they believe are equivalent to A-Level, whether obtained in Uganda or abroad, must secure a certificate of equivalency from NCHE.
The EC requires these candidates to submit the NCHE-issued certificate to either the Electoral Commission headquarters or the District Election Administrator (DEA) in the district where they plan to run, at least two months before the nomination dates.
Byabakama asaid academic certificates verified for previous elections will not be valid for the upcoming polls unless the candidate has since earned a higher qualification from an accredited Ugandan institution.
“A certificate of equivalency for previous elections is not relevant for the 2025/2026 general elections. One is required to obtain a fresh certificate, unless such a person has since acquired a higher qualification obtained in Uganda,” he said.
However, the EC clarified that certain candidates are exempt from this verification process, including those with an A-Level certificate from Uganda, those with higher qualifications from Ugandan institutions, and those with qualifications above A-Level from the former University of East Africa or its constituent colleges.
Byabakama emphasized that these exempt groups are not required to verify their academic qualifications with the EC within the specified timeframe.
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