Public Holidays in Uganda 2026
17 listed public holiday dates in 2026
Uganda's calendar combines Christian and Muslim holidays with liberation, martyrs, heroes and independence commemorations.
Uganda Public Holidays 2026
| Date | Day | Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 1 | Thursday | New Year's Day |
| Jan 15 | Thursday | Election Day Holiday One-off |
| Jan 16 | Friday | Election Day Holiday One-off |
| Jan 26 | Monday | Liberation Day |
| Feb 16 | Monday | Janani Luwum Day |
| Mar 8 | Sunday | International Women's Day |
| Mar 20 | Friday | Eid al-Fitr Moon |
| Apr 3 | Friday | Good Friday |
| Apr 6 | Monday | Easter Monday |
| May 1 | Friday | Labour Day |
| May 12 | Tuesday | Presidential Swearing-In Public Holiday One-off |
| May 27 | Wednesday | Eid al-Adha Moon |
| Jun 3 | Wednesday | Uganda Martyrs' Day |
| Jun 9 | Tuesday | National Heroes Day |
| Aug 25 | Tuesday | Prophet's Birthday Moon |
| Oct 9 | Friday | Independence Day |
| Dec 25 | Friday | Christmas Day |
| Dec 26 | Saturday | Boxing Day |
* 2027 Islamic dates are provisional; one-off 2026 election holidays are not projected forward.
Election Holidays in 2026
The 2026 calendar includes one-off public holidays on 15 and 16 January for the general election period.
Holiday Rules in Uganda
Islamic dates require official confirmation. One-off election holidays are not carried into 2027.
Uganda Holiday Calendar: What to Know
- Independence Day is 9 October.
- Uganda Martyrs' Day is 3 June.
- 2026 includes two election holidays.
- Islamic dates are lunar.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Uganda Independence Day?
9 October.
Why are 15 and 16 January listed only in 2026?
They were public holidays for the election period.
Why are 2027 Eid dates provisional?
They depend on lunar confirmation.
When is National Heroes Day?
9 June.
Sources & methodology
View sources used for this page
Official diplomatic calendar used to verify Uganda public holidays and moon-sighting caveats for 2026.
Independent calendar cross-check used for date, weekday and observed-day review. Government notices and statutory rules take precedence where they differ.
Source hierarchy: official government, statutory, gazette or institutional material is used first. Timeanddate is retained only as an independent calendar cross-check where present. Later official declarations take precedence.