KAMPALA, Uganda: 08 January 2026— The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has issued a stern directive to all broadcasters and online media users, reminding them that only the Electoral Commission (EC) has the exclusive legal mandate to tally and announce official election results.
The directive, dated January 7, 2026, comes as the country prepares for the general elections scheduled for January 15. It targets television and radio broadcasters, online data communication service providers, and individual social media users.
Restrictions on Media Houses
Under the new guidelines, media houses are strictly prohibited from publishing projections or “parallel unofficial results”. The UCC emphasized that broadcasters must refrain from airing tallies attributed to political parties, civil society organizations, or random callers.
For those who choose to report official results once they are released by the EC, the UCC has set the following requirements:
Accuracy: Results must be presented exactly as they appear on official EC declaration forms.
Record Keeping: Broadcasters must retain copies of declaration forms or audio-visual recordings of returning officers for every result reported.
Disclaimers: Every presentation of results must end with a reminder to the audience that the data is based on official records from the Electoral Commission.
Social Media and Online Conduct
The directive extends significantly to digital spaces. Individual users and administrators of social media groups are warned that posting or forwarding “inflammatory, inaccurate, misleading, or false” information is a criminal offense under the Computer Misuse Act. Group managers are specifically tasked with moderating their members to ensure no prohibited content is shared.
Permissible Coverage
While the UCC has restricted the declaration of results, it clarified that media houses are still encouraged to provide civic education. Broadcasters may:
Provide factual updates on voting and counting procedures.
Report on formal press releases issued by the Electoral Commission.
Host issue-based discussions, provided they remain impartial, non-inflammatory, and offer “reasonable opportunity” for diverse political viewpoints.
Consequences of Non-Compliance
UCC Executive Director Nyombi Thembo warned that failure to comply with these directives will attract severe administrative and legal sanctions. These may include heavy fines, suspension of broadcasting licenses, or criminal prosecution.
The Commission has advised all media platforms to seek formal accreditation from the Electoral Commission to ensure seamless access to real-time official updates during the election period.
