The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has confirmed that all presidential candidates in the 2026 elections will be placed under the protection of the Special Forces Command (SFC), an elite force responsible for the security of the President of Uganda.

Electoral Commission (EC) spokesperson Julius Mucunguzi announced that nominations for presidential candidates are scheduled for next week on Tuesday and Wednesday. He noted that once a candidate is successfully nominated, they will immediately be assigned a police patrol vehicle with armed officers to ensure security during the campaign period.

According to the UPDF, however, the responsibility for protecting presidential candidates as Very Important Persons (VIPs) now rests with the SFC.

“The Electoral Commission is mandated to provide police security. The SFC is mandated to provide security to VIPs. Every presidential candidate is a VIP,” explained Maj Gen Felix Kulayigye, the Defence Public Information Officer.

This directive aligns with an earlier declaration by the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba. In July, he emphasised that the SFC alone would be tasked with safeguarding candidates during the election season.

“I have said it once and for all, ALL presidential candidates will be guarded ONLY by SFC! Any personal arrangements that do not concur with our standard operating procedures (SOPs) will be smashed immediately,” Gen Muhoozi posted on X (formerly Twitter).

In previous elections, security for presidential aspirants was handled by the Very Important Persons Protection Unit (VVIPU) under the police’s Counter-Terrorism Directorate.