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 monitor the General Elections scheduled for January 15, 2026. The mission, led by former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, is in Uganda following an official invitation from the Government of Uganda and the Electoral Commission.
The mission aims to observe all critical election-day procedures, including the opening of polling stations, voting, and the closing and counting of ballots. A statement released by the mission emphasized that the observers will be deployed across all regions of Uganda to ensure comprehensive coverage of the election process.
Leadership Team and Composition of the Mission
The AU-COMESA-IGAD Election Observation Mission is led by former President Goodluck Jonathan, with the support of Ambassador Shemsudin Ahmed Roble from the COMESA Committee of Elders and Commander Abebe Muluneh Beyene from IGAD. The leadership team brings extensive experience from AU, COMESA, and IGAD institutions to guide the observation process.
The mission comprises 84 short-term observers from diverse backgrounds, including ambassadors accredited to the AU, election management officials, civil society representatives, human rights specialists, and experts in gender, media, and elections. The observers also include representatives from youth organizations, reflecting a broad spectrum of professional expertise.
Observers from Across Africa
The mission’s observers come from various African countries, including Algeria, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Mauritius, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Some of the observers are from the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, Sierra Leone, and Somalia, underscoring the pan-African nature of the mission.
Guiding Principles and Methodology
The observation process will be guided by Uganda’s legal framework, as well as continental and international standards, such as the OAU/AU Declaration on the Principles Governing Democratic Elections and the African Charter on Democracy, Elections, and Governance. The mission will also rely on the International Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation.
“The Mission will observe all key election-day procedures,” the statement read, ensuring that the election is conducted in a transparent and fair manner. The mission will interact with state authorities, political parties, media organizations, civil society groups, and representatives of the international community to gather insights and assess the election process.
Preliminary Statement and Final Report
The mission is expected to issue a preliminary statement on January 17, 2026, in Kampala, providing an initial assessment of the election process. A final, comprehensive report will be released within one month after the announcement of the final election results, offering a thorough analysis of the election’s credibility and integrity.
