The Electoral Commission has officially launched an important initiative in preparation for Uganda’s 2026 General Elections: the voter registration and National Voters’ Register update. This process offers new and existing voters the chance to verify and update their details, ensuring their eligibility to vote in January next year.
According to the Electoral
Commission, the general update of the National Voters’ Register will be
conducted at update stations in each parish, typically at locations where
voting stations are situated, or at venues agreed upon by local leaders and
Electoral Commission parish supervisors. The process, which started Monday,
January 20, will run until February 10th, operating daily from 8:00 am to 6:00
pm, including weekends.
Julius Mucunguzi, the Head of
Public Relations and Spokesperson for the Electoral Commission, the process is
open to all Ugandan citizens aged 18 and above, whether they are registering
for the first time or updating their details. He emphasized that the
registration will follow a self-reporting procedure.
“The registration process is designed to be
straightforward and simple,” Mucunguzi said. “Individuals intending to register
as voters will need to visit an update centre in person, where they will
provide their details, have their photograph taken, and their signature and
fingerprints captured.”
For new voters, Mucunguzi
stressed the importance of bringing their National Identification Number (NIN)
to confirm their identity. He also stated that the same persons should present
their parents' NINs. If the parents are unavailable, the voter must provide
proof of residence, such as a letter from the local council confirming their
residency.
//Cue in; “You must Prove...
Cue out...those details.”//
For those wishing to confirm
that their details are correctly captured, the Electoral Commission offers a
convenient way to check by visiting their website and entering their NIN to
view their information.
The update exercise also allows
registered voters to verify that their details are accurately reflected in the
Voters’ Register at the polling locations they selected during registration. Additionally,
voters can confirm the accuracy of their information and correct any errors
found.
For those unable to access the
website, which are the majority given the fact that internet use in Uganda is
still very low, the Voter Register will be displayed at each polling station
update centre within the respective Parish.
If any errors are identified,
voters are advised to inform the registering officer, who will make the
necessary updates after reviewing the supporting documents provided.
A document posted on the EC
website clarifies that registered voters can only make corrections to minor
errors, such as spelling mistakes, gender discrepancies, or mismatches in their
photograph.
"For clarity, such voters
will not be able to change their age or date of birth, or add new names,"
the document states.
Transferring voter location
One of the more complex aspects
of the update process is the application for a transfer of voting location.
This may require individuals to visit their previous voting station, provide
details of their former location, and submit additional documents, such as a
local council letter confirming their origin in that area.
Mucunguzi explained that, when
applying for a transfer, voters must also provide documentation to prove they
are residents of the new voting location. Proof of residency must be presented,
which can be confirmed by the local residents and leaders in the area.
//Cue in; “Now that one....
Cue out...the LC.”//
Those wishing to transfer their
voting station must be physically present at any of the update centres where a
registration kit will be stationed. Learners previously registered by the National
Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) who have turned 18 will have
their status automatically updated, and they will be assigned a polling station
within their parish. These individuals do not need to re-register but are
encouraged to visit an update station with their NIN.
Additionally, special interest
groups, such as youth, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and older persons,
will have their Voter Registers updated to ensure proper representation in the
upcoming elections.
Why the Process is Critical
Eric Sabiti, the Head of Litigation at the
Electoral Commission, emphasized the importance of the voter registration
update, stating that it allows citizens who have turned 18 to register and
gives existing voters a chance to correct inaccuracies in their details,
particularly their names.
“This exercise also allows individuals to change
their voting location if they wish, such as transferring from Kampala to
Rwampara. Voters will be given forms to fill out at the voting centres for this
purpose,” Sabiti explained.
Sabiti added that
participation in the process is also essential for anyone wishing to vote or
stand as a candidate in the 2026 elections. He noted that in previous
elections, several candidates were disqualified for not being registered voters
in the constituencies they intended to represent.
Sabiti also referenced a
high-profile case in 2016, when the current Minister for Constitutional Affairs
and Justice, Nobert Mao, was disqualified from running for MP in Gulu due to a
failure to update his details in the voter register.
“Mao had intended to stand for
MP in Gulu, but he was disqualified because he had not updated his details.
Although Mao later petitioned the Constitutional Court, it was long after the
election cycle had passed,” Sabiti said.
