South Sudan’s announcement that long-delayed elections will be held on December 22, 2026 has sparked cautious optimism among refugees living in Uganda, though many remain doubtful that conditions are conducive for a credible vote.
For thousands of South Sudanese refugees scattered across the West Nile sub-region and other parts of Uganda, the election date has revived hopes of peace and eventual return home. Yet concerns over insecurity, political tensions and uncertainty about refugee participation continue to cloud expectations.
Speaking in Juba on June 22, National Elections Commission chairperson Prof. Abednego Akok Kachuol confirmed that elections would take place on December 22, 2026, in line with the National Elections Commission Act.
‘There are many challenges facing the commission. We strongly request the government to speed up amending the existing legal gaps and provide all basic needs within a short period to enable us proceed with our duties and responsibilities,’ Prof. Akok said.
The December vote would be South Sudan’s first national election since the 2010 polls held before independence from Sudan in 2011.
However, many refugees in Uganda say they have yet to receive clear information on whether they will be allowed to participate.
‘Do you think there is an election? There is no environment for elections in South Sudan,’ said Gabriel Batali, chairperson of the South Sudan Refugees Association in Arua City.
‘This is the third time that they are declaring. It is a usual declaration. It is an avenue to eat money.’
Batali questioned how authorities could organise a credible election amid insecurity, limited freedom of movement and the absence of voter registration and campaign preparations.
‘How can you organise an election where there is still insecurity, where movement is hard for people, voter registration and no environment for open campaigns? Election is not a one-day thing but a process,’ he said.
The uncertainty is particularly significant for refugees who participated in the 2010 referendum and elections while living abroad, after South Sudanese authorities gazetted polling centres in neighbouring countries.
Opposition figures have also raised concerns about the country’s readiness.
Charles Mogga Guya, secretary for foreign affairs of the South Sudan National Movement for Change (SSNMC), said elections were necessary for a peaceful transition but warned that major obstacles remained.
‘We all need peace and tranquillity to prevail,’ he said. ‘But challenges remain, including the lack of an updated population census, constitutional issues and insecurity posed by various armed groups.’
He added that refugees and other South Sudanese living abroad should not be excluded from the electoral process.
Many refugees still carry vivid memories of the conflict that forced them to flee.
When fighting intensified in 2017, thousands crossed into Uganda through the West Nile region, many arriving with little more than the clothes they were wearing. Families trekked for days through bushland, escaping violence and uncertainty.
For some, those memories fuel doubts about the prospects for peaceful elections.
‘I do not think there is going to be peaceful elections because most areas are still not peaceful,’ said Mary Akuol, a South Sudanese refugee who has lived in Uganda for 15 years.
‘Our relatives who remained in South Sudan are still hearing gunshots each time. There are still numerous groups with different intentions that are actively operating.’
She said preparations for elections should have begun much earlier, including voter registration, civic education and arrangements for citizens living abroad.
The planned vote is widely viewed as a critical test for South Sudan’s fragile peace process.
Elections have been repeatedly postponed as leaders struggled to implement key provisions of peace agreements, including security reforms and constitution-making.
Political tensions remain high, with opposition leader Dr. Riek Machar and several associates currently facing charges including treason and crimes against humanity linked to violence in Nasir, where authorities say about 250 soldiers were killed.
Despite the uncertainty, many refugees say they are watching developments closely because the outcome could influence decisions about returning home, reuniting with family members and rebuilding livelihoods.
For South Sudanese living in exile, the December election represents more than a political event. It is a measure of whether the world’s youngest nation can finally move beyond years of conflict and instability.
Whether the vote delivers that promise remains uncertain, but for many refugees, its outcome could shape the next chapter of their lives.
Electoral Constituencies
According to a National Elections Commission document obtained by Daily Monitor, Central Equatoria has the highest number of electoral constituencies at 14, followed by Jonglei with 17 constituencies, including Greater Pibor. Eastern Equatoria has 11 constituencies, while Upper Nile has 12. Warrap also has 12 constituencies, including Abyei. Unity State has seven constituencies, including Ruweng, while Western Equatoria and Lakes have eight constituencies each. Northern Bahr el Ghazal has nine constituencies, and Western Bahr el Ghazal has the fewest with four.
For refugees, the election is more than a political event; it is deeply personal. The outcome could influence decisions about returning home, investing in communities, reconnecting with relatives, and rebuilding livelihoods after years of displacement.
Whether the December 22 election becomes a landmark step toward a more stable future remains uncertain. However, its outcome could shape the next chapter of refugees’ lives and the destiny of the nation they still call home.