During a press conference held last week, the chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Justice Simon Byabakama, addressed key issues regarding the ongoing update of the national voters’ register and outlined the way forward as the country moves closer to the 2026 elections.
Byabakama emphasized the importance of the exercise in ensuring an accurate and inclusive voter register, which is crucial for a transparent and credible electoral process. He called on eligible citizens, especially those turning 18 for the first time, to take advantage of this period to participate in shaping the country’s democratic future.
Can you shed more light on the ongoing voter registration update?
The Electoral Commission (EC) has commenced the General Update of the National Voters Register, which began on Monday, January 20, 2025, and will run until February 10, 2025. This exercise is being conducted in compliance with Article 61(1)(e) of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda and Section 20 of the Electoral Commission Act (Cap 176).
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The primary goal of this update is to enable eligible Ugandan citizens aged 18 and above, who are not yet registered voters, to register. To do so, individuals must appear in person at an update center within their parish of residence or origin. At the center, their details are recorded, their photograph and signature are taken, and their fingerprints are captured as part of the voter registration process.
What challenges have been encountered during this process, and how are they being addressed?
One of the major challenges faced during the voter registration update is the inadequacy and functionality of registration kits provided by the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA). While the Electoral Commission required 5,000 kits for the exercise, NIRA was only able to supply 2,703 kits.
Given the limited number of kits, the registration process is being conducted on a rotational basis across Uganda’s approximately 2,200 sub-counties. Communities are informed in advance about the specific dates and locations where the registration teams will be present, allowing eligible individuals to plan accordingly and ensure they are registered.
The Electoral Commission’s technical teams are actively supporting the registration process by addressing issues with malfunctioning kits and other technical difficulties. Despite these challenges, the EC remains committed to ensuring all eligible citizens have an opportunity to register before the exercise concludes.
For those who have not yet registered, this update is a crucial step in ensuring their participation in Uganda’s democratic process ahead of the 2026 general elections.
There were reports of a low turnout for registration when the exercise began. Won’t this affect the deadline?
The statistics we are receiving indicate that the exercise is progressing as planned in line with our objectives and target applicants. It is important to emphasize that this is not a mass registration of all eligible voters in the country. If you are already on the National Voters Register and participated in the 2021 general election or any by-elections in your area, there is no need to register again.
Another point to consider is the cultural aspect of Uganda regarding deadlines. People tend to respond slowly at first, but as the deadline approaches, they come in large numbers. This is typical behaviour in such situations.
What is the role of security agencies during this registration exercise? For example, how does the recommendation from the District Internal Security Officer (DISO) come into play?
Voter registration is fundamentally based on the need to verify citizenship, particularly for first-time applicants. Citizenship verification is a critical aspect of this process, as it ensures that only eligible Ugandan citizens are registered. As we all know, the country is home to many non-citizens.
This reality makes it crucial to confirm and establish whether an applicant is indeed a citizen. There is a security element involved in this verification process, and therefore, it is impossible to separate security from the process of confirming citizenship.
However, people should not misconstrue this involvement as security agencies taking over the voter registration process. This system is a standard procedure that the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) has been using. Most of us who are already registered as citizens went through this process ourselves.
To facilitate this process for new applicants, the Commission has engaged the leadership of the Uganda Police Force and other security agencies to provide support where necessary.
Voters who have changed locations For voters who participated in the last election but have since shifted to new locations, the procedure for transferring their voting location is as follows:
1. A voter who wishes to transfer to a new voting location must provide confirmation that they either originate from or are currently a resident of the parish corresponding to the new voting location. 2. Such applicants are required to present details of their previous voting location to enable the transfer process. 3. A person wishing to apply for a transfer is free to visit any of the update centers to complete this process.
During your last appearance before the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs committee, you mentioned that Ugandans turning 18 years after February 10 will not be able to vote.
Can you clarify this?
It is true that every day, Ugandans are turning 18 years old. Even on the day of nomination, there will be people reaching the voting age. The question, however, is whether voter registration can remain open-ended. The answer is no—it cannot happen. We have elections scheduled for early this year, around June, for special interest groups. The starting point for these elections is the National Voters Register.
Without a defined cutoff, what register would be used for this special election?
Planning is essential. We need to determine how many ballot papers to print based on the number of registered voters. Additionally, we need to calculate how many polling stations are required to accommodate voters.
When we set a deadline for voter registration, it is not because we intend to exclude younger people who are turning 18 between February 10 and polling day. Rather, it is to ensure we have a credible and verifiable voters’ register that supports proper planning and execution of the electoral process.
How will the proposed budget cuts for the Electoral Commission affect the election roadmap?
First of all, the requirement for us to conduct these general elections is mandated by Article 61, Clause 2 of the Constitution. This mandate is clear: elections must take place, regardless of whether funds are available or not. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the government to provide the necessary funds for the exercise.
From my understanding, the government has never failed to meet this obligation. Conducting general elections is an enterprise wholly funded by the government. The Electoral Commission does not receive financial support from any other organization for this purpose.
The government has already allocated some funds for the elections, and we are confident that the additional funds required—the remaining portion of the budget—will also be provided. We are optimistic that the government will meet its obligation and ensure the election roadmap is not affected.
Regarding the biometric machines used during the 2021 elections and those recently utilized in the census, what is the deficit for the upcoming elections, and how does the Electoral Commission plan to address it?
The biometric kits in question are specifically used for the identification and verification of voters, primarily on voting days. These machines are essential for ensuring a smooth and credible voting process. To reduce costs, the government decided that the gadgets procured for the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) during the national census exercise could also serve the Electoral Commission’s purposes.
Approximately 38,000 specialized kits, designed for dual purposes, were procured. After UBOS completed the census, a significant number of these kits were handed over to the Electoral Commission for use on polling day. However, there remains a deficit. To address this shortfall, the Electoral Commission plans to procure an additional 12,000 kits to meet the required number. There is no cause for concern regarding this issue. The Electoral Commission is confident that the required biometric kits will be available and operational on election day.
When are campaigns expected to start?
According to the law, the campaign period can only begin after nominations have taken place. However, if you look at our roadmap, these activities have been scheduled and spread out.
• Parliamentary candidates will be nominated in September, followed by their campaign period.
• Presidential nominations will take place in October, and campaigns will begin thereafter. At the moment, we do not have any recognized candidates since no nominations have occurred yet. Campaigns can only officially start once the nomination process is complete.
How can violence during campaigns and elections be addressed?
The Commission has consistently appealed to Ugandans to prioritize peace and stability, which are critical for making our country a safe and enjoyable place to live. Whether you belong to the ruling party or the opposition, instability and insecurity affect everyone.
Unfortunately, during elections, some players tend to create incidents of violence and unrest. This is something we must address collectively.
My message is clear: regardless of whether I am here or not, I will always urge Ugandans to work for peace and stability. Avoid election-related violence that could lead to instability and disrupt the socio-economic activities that benefit all of us. Let us safeguard the peace and progress of our country for the good of everyone.
There are always accusations of vote rigging. Even the president stated last year that his votes were rigged by the National Unity Platform (NUP). How is the Commission planning to address this issue in the 2026 elections?
First of all, the issue raised by the president is a serious matter. We are putting a mechanism in place to investigate it thoroughly to establish what exactly happened. If vote rigging occurred, we aim to understand how it happened and, most importantly, how to prevent it from happening again. We are committed to ensuring that such incidents are effectively addressed.
There has always been concern that people in the diaspora do not vote, unlike in countries such as Kenya and Rwanda, where diaspora voting is allowed.
How can Uganda emulate these countries?
Indeed, Article 59 of the Constitution affirms that every citizen has the right to participate in elections, whether as voters or as candidates. However, electoral processes are governed by domestic laws, and you cannot enforce your national laws in another country. For example, it is not feasible for Uganda to register voters in the parishes of their origin or residence in foreign countries like the United States or the UK.
To allow diaspora voting, Uganda would require an enabling law specifying how citizens abroad can vote from their respective locations. At the moment, any citizen living in the diaspora is at liberty to vote under the current legal framework, but they must return to Uganda to do so.
