A Cornerstone of Legal and Political Recordkeeping: The Uganda National Gazette

On March 24, 2025 today, Elias Luyimbazi Nalukoola, the National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate, was officially gazetted by the Electoral Commission (EC) as the duly elected Member of Parliament for Kawempe North. This event marked the conclusion of a contentious delay following his victory in the March 13 by-election. This milestone not only highlighted Nalukoola’s triumph over his National Resistance Movement (NRM) rival, Faridah Nambi Kigongo, but also renewed attention on the Uganda National Gazette, the official publication that formalized his win. But what exactly is the Uganda National Gazette, and why is it significant in Ugandan governance and public life?

The Uganda National Gazette, often referred to simply as the Uganda Gazette, is the official government publication of the Republic of Uganda. It is defined under Article 257 of the Ugandan Constitution as “the Uganda Gazette, and includes any supplement of that Gazette.” Section 2(ff) of the Interpretation Act (Cap. 3) further clarifies it as “the Uganda Gazette, including any supplement or Gazette Extraordinary.” This publication serves as the authoritative record for legal notices, government announcements, and legislative actions. It is published by the Uganda Printing and Publishing Corporation (UPPC), a government entity established under the Uganda Printing and Publishing Corporation Act (Cap. 330). The UPPC is a corporate body with perpetual succession, tasked with providing printing and publishing services to the government, its ministries, departments, parastatal bodies, and even private entities when directed by the Minister through statutory instruments. The Gazette has been a key component of Uganda’s administrative framework for over a century. It is released weekly on Fridays, although “Extraordinary” editions, such as the one gazetting Nalukoola on March 24, can be issued on any day to address urgent matters.

Historically, the Gazette’s roots trace back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries, influenced by missionary and colonial activities. Missionaries introduced reading and writing through churches and schools, laying the groundwork for public communication. During British colonial rule, the education system expanded, and after World War II, Ugandan veterans returned with revolutionary ideas, leading to the emergence of early newspapers like Gambuzze, Munyonyozzi, and Tula Nkunyonyole. These publications were instrumental in the eventual establishment of an official government gazette. For more than 120 years, it existed solely in hard copy, circulated primarily to government offices, law firms, NGOs, and select institutions. However, its role has evolved over time. In 2024, the UPPC launched the E-Gazette, a digital version accessible online, making it more affordable (800,000 shillings annually versus 1.4 million for the hard copy) and globally available. Individual issues of the E-Gazette cost 3,000 shillings, compared to 5,000 shillings for the hard copy, thus eliminating the need for physical storage. This shift, championed by UPPC Managing Director Prof. Sudi Nangoli, reflects Uganda’s broader push for digitization, aligning with the national digitization strategy and the UPPC’s five-year strategic plan. Nangoli projects that 80% of UPPC’s product offerings will be digitized by 2026, while Rebecca Nyakairu, the Public and Corporate Affairs Manager, emphasizes the convenience of online access, though hard copies will remain available.

The content of The Uganda Gazette is both diverse and crucial. It includes government notices, declarations, bills, statutes, statutory instruments, legal notices, appointments, and official announcements, such as the publication of election results. Being published in the Gazette serves as an official notification to the public and is often referenced in legal contexts as evidence of due notice. For instance, laws may stipulate that additional media publications accompany the Gazette to widen its reach. This is outlined in Article 91(8) of the Constitution for Acts of Parliament.

For Elias Nalukoola, publication in The Uganda Gazette, Vol. CXVIII No. 24 on March 24, 2025, was the final legal step under the Parliamentary Elections Act confirming his electoral victory with 17,764 votes and enabling his swearing-in. However, his process was not without complications. After his win, Nalukoola faced a nearly two-week delay, which led to accusations of bureaucratic stalling by the Electoral Commission (EC). NUP leaders, including Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya, along with opposition MPs like Joel Ssenyonyi and Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, expressed their frustration. They contrasted Nalukoola’s wait with the swift gazettement of NRM winners, such as Michael Mawanda of Igara East, who was sworn in within 24 hours.

The Uganda Print and Publishing Corporation (UPPC) clarified that it could only act once the EC submitted the official notice under Section 78(1) of the Parliamentary Elections Act, which was finally received on March 24, resolving the delay.

This episode underscores the Gazette’s critical role as more than just a publication; it serves as a legal cornerstone. Under Ugandan law, many actions such as enacting legislation and recognizing elected officials require publication in the Gazette to take effect. Historically, its limited physical circulation posed challenges, restricting access for ministries, law firms, NGOs, and the general public. However, the introduction of the E-Gazette has ensured a broader reach, which was particularly beneficial in Nalukoola’s case, as citizens could verify his gazettement online within hours of its announcement.

Ultimately, the Uganda National Gazette is both a historical document and a modern tool, bridging Uganda’s past with its digital future. For Elias Luyimbazi Nalukoola and the NUP, its pages represent a hard-fought victory after a prolonged struggle. For the nation, it remains a lasting symbol of transparency and legality in governance, quietly witnessing Uganda’s political and administrative evolution from its offices at Airways House in Kampala to screens worldwide.