Over 21,600,000 Voters Are Confirmed To Vote: Chairperson Byabakama Declares

Justice Simon Byabakama Mugenyi addressed the press at the IEC headquarters in Kampala

UgandaToday: Over 21,600,000 Voters Are Confirmed To Vote: Chairperson Byabakama Declares

Kampala, Uganda — The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has assured the nation that preparations for the 2025/2026 General Elections are firmly on track, with several key milestones already completed ahead of the January–February 2026 polling schedule.

Addressing journalists at the IEC headquarters in Kampala, Chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama Mugenyi delivered an extensive update on activities implemented under the revised electoral roadmap, emphasizing transparency, preparedness, and stakeholder cooperation.

Major Milestones Completed

According to the EC, since the roadmap’s launch in August 2023 and revision in July 2024, the Commission has achieved the following:

Demarcation of Local Government electoral areas and re-organisation of polling stations
General update of the National Voters Register and compilation of Special Interest Groups (SIGs) registers
Public display of the voters register nationwide
Elections of SIG committees from village to national level
Nomination of candidates for presidential, parliamentary, and local government positions

Uganda now has 21,681,491 registered voters, with women constituting 53% of the electorate. The country will vote from 50,739 polling stations distributed across 71,214 villages and 146 districts.

Justice Byabakama urged all registered voters to turn up on polling days and revealed that the EC will soon begin issuing Voter Location Slips (VLS) to help citizens easily locate their polling stations.

Fresh Nominations in Affected Areas

The IEC will conduct fresh nominations on November 27–28, 2025 in areas where nominated candidates passed away during the campaign period. Seven elective positions across Kassanda, Kaabong, Bududa, Kwania, Nakasongola, Sironko, and Tororo districts have been affected. Previously nominated candidates in those races will not be required to undergo fresh nomination.

Polling Dates Confirmed

The Commission reaffirmed the polling dates for various elective positions, with presidential and parliamentary elections scheduled for 15 January 2026. Elections for local government, SIGs, municipal councils, and national representative bodies will stretch through January and early February.

The EC called on political parties, candidates, observers, and security agencies to prepare accordingly.

Petitions and Complaints Handled

The Commission has received about 300 petitions arising from the nomination exercise, covering presidential, parliamentary, and local government levels. Justice Byabakama clarified that the number is minimal compared to the 83,597 nominated candidates and assured the public of fair and timely resolution of all matters.

Ballot Paper Printing Underway

The EC has contracted reputable firms—both international and local—to print ballot papers for all elective positions. Companies from Dubai, South Africa, Greece, Kenya, and Uganda are working under strict monitoring to ensure transparency.

Political parties participating in presidential elections are urged to submit names of official agents who will witness the delivery of printed materials.

Biometric Kits Ready for Deployment

To enhance electoral integrity, the EC has procured 109,142 Biometric Voter Verification Kits (BVVKs), an upgraded version of the technology previously used in 2016 and 2021.

So far, 60,000 kits have been delivered, with the remainder expected by the end of November 2025. Over 50,000 operators and 1,050 trainers are currently being recruited and trained ahead of deployment.

Stakeholder demonstrations on how the BVVK system works will commence in the coming days.

Accreditation of Observers and Media

Accreditation for both national and international observers, as well as media practitioners, is ongoing. Those operating within Kampala, Wakiso, and Mukono will be accredited at the EC headquarters, while others will use district EC offices. Byabakama emphasized that accreditation enhances election transparency from pre-polling to post-polling stages.

Call for Discipline During Campaigns

The EC expressed concern over rising incidents of campaign misconduct, including traffic-disrupting processions, use of abusive language, and defacement of campaign materials. Justice Byabakama condemned such acts and warned that sanctions will be applied to any individual or political entity that violates guidelines.

The Commission has held two meetings with presidential candidate agents and security agencies to address campaign-related grievances and will convene another session soon.

Assurance of a Credible Election

Justice Byabakama reiterated the EC’s commitment to delivering free, fair, and transparent elections in accordance with Articles 60 and 61 of the Constitution.

“A credible electoral process is a shared responsibility,” he noted, urging all stakeholders to maintain peace, respect the law, and participate meaningfully throughout the electoral cycle.