Kampala, Uganda: The Electoral Commission (EC) has declared that it is fully prepared for the 2026 General Elections, with most roadmap activities completed and the country now entering the final and most critical phase of the electoral cycle.
Addressing the media on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, at the Commission headquarters, EC Chairperson, Justice Simon Byabakama Mugenyi, said campaigns and polling preparations were on course, citing coordinated support from government, Parliament, political parties, civil society, security agencies, the media and EC staff.
“We are now in the final stretch of the electoral cycle. Most of the key activities on the roadmap have been successfully concluded,” Byabakama said.
He confirmed that recruitment and training of election officials at all levels has been completed, a process he said was aimed at ensuring professionalism, competence and integrity on polling day.
Byabakama said the Commission is currently accrediting both domestic and international election observers, describing the process as part of EC’s commitment to transparency and openness to scrutiny.
He further revealed that most petitions arising from the nomination of candidates have already been heard and determined in accordance with the law, as campaigns continue under close monitoring to ensure compliance with electoral guidelines.
The EC chairperson reminded political actors to campaign peacefully and within the law, warning that violations would be addressed.
Mandatory Biometric Verification
Byabakama announced that the 2026 elections will, for the first time, mandatorily use the Biometric Voter Verification Kit (BVVK) at polling stations.
“This requirement is now fully backed by a Statutory Instrument signed by the Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs,” he said, adding that the measure strengthens safeguards against voter impersonation and fraud.
The EC chairperson cautioned against the growing practice of sharing alleged voter register irregularities on social media, warning that such actions violate privacy and data protection laws.
“Publishing photographs or personal voter information without consent violates data protection and privacy laws and fuels misinformation,” Byabakama warned, urging complainants to submit concerns directly to the Commission.
The Commission confirmed receipt of ballot papers and Declaration of Results (DR) forms for the Presidential, Directly Elected Members of Parliament and District Woman MP elections from contracted security printers abroad.
Byabakama said the process was witnessed by representatives of presidential candidates, political parties, the media and accredited observers.
Packing of generic election materials has been completed, while packing of non-generic materials is ongoing. He added that dispatch of transparent ballot boxes, solar lamps and other equipment to districts and cities has already commenced. Packing of polling-station-specific voter registers and ballot papers is also underway ahead of polling day.
Unauthorized Tally Website
In a strong public warning, the Commission disowned a website operating under the address registry.ugtally.com, reportedly run by an entity known as FANON. Byabakama said the platform is neither authorized nor affiliated with the EC and is not accredited as a voter education organization.
“I want to warn and advise Ugandans to avoid the platform and instead use only the official EC website to verify voter and polling station details,” he said, adding that the matter has been referred to the Uganda Communications Commission for guidance.
Byabakama also clarified that the Commission will issue hard copies of the photo-bearing National Voters’ Register to all presidential candidates, as required by law.
He said the move is intended to allow candidates and their agents to verify voter eligibility and polling locations. Soft copies have already been issued, while constituency registers are available to other candidates and parties upon application.
Byabakama emphasized that the photo-bearing register will be the basis for voting and that voters whose details appear on it will be allowed to vote at their designated polling stations even without a national ID.
Call for Peaceful Conduct
The EC boss appealed for restraint, tolerance and respect for the rule of law, stressing that peaceful conduct before, during and after polling is critical to the credibility of the elections. “The Commission remains committed to delivering free, fair and transparent elections,” he said, urging all Ugandans to play their part in safeguarding peace as the country heads into the 2026 polls.
If you would like your article/opinion to be published on Uganda’s most authoritative news platform, send your submission on: [email protected]. You can also follow DailyExpress on WhatsApp and on Twitter (X) for realtime updates.
