A joint election observation mission from the African Union (AU), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has arrived in Uganda to observe the January 15, 2026, General Elections.
According to an arrival statement, the AU-COMESA-IGAD Election Observation Mission (EOM) is in the country following an invitation from the Government of Uganda and the Electoral Commission.
“The Mission is at the invitation of the Government of Uganda and the Electoral Commission,” the statement said.
The mission is led by former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, with support from Ambassador Shemsudin Ahmed Roble of the COMESA Committee of Elders and Commander Abebe Muluneh Beyene from IGAD.
The statement noted that the leadership team brings together experience drawn from AU, COMESA and IGAD institutions.
The EOM comprises 84 short-term observers drawn from ambassadors accredited to the AU, election management officials, civil society representatives, human rights specialists, as well as gender, media and election experts, and representatives of youth organisations.
“The observers are drawn from a wide range of professional backgrounds to support the electoral process,” the mission stated.
The observers come from several countries, including Algeria, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Eswatini, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Ghana and Kenya.
Others are from Lesotho, Mauritius, Nigeria, Rwanda, the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
According to the statement, observers will be deployed across all regions of Uganda to monitor the opening of polling stations, voting, and the closing and counting processes.
“The Mission will observe all key election-day procedures,” it said.
The observation will be guided by Uganda’s legal framework as well as continental and international instruments, including the OAU/AU Declaration on the Principles Governing Democratic Elections, the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, and the International Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation.
“Our assessment will rely on these instruments,” the statement said.
The mission will also engage with state authorities, the Electoral Commission, political parties, media organisations, civil society groups, representatives of the international community and other election observation missions.
The EOM is expected to issue a preliminary statement on January 17, 2026, in Kampala.
A final and comprehensive report will be released within one month after the announcement of the final election results.
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