EC Chairperson Highlights Progress On Voters Register Update And Kawempe By-election Preparations

By Gad Masereka

Justice Simon Byabakama Mugenyi, Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), has updated the public on the ongoing General Update of the National Voters Register and the upcoming by-elections in Kawempe Division North. Addressing a press conference on 24th January 2025 at the EC headquarters, he emphasized the significance of the exercise in preparation for Uganda’s 2025/2026 General Elections.

Purpose of the Voters Register Update

The nationwide exercise, which began on 20th January and runs until 10th February 2025, aims to:

• Register new voters: Ugandan citizens aged 18 and above who have not yet registered.
• Facilitate voter transfers: Voters may relocate to new polling stations by providing proof of residency or origin.
• Verify details: Voters can correct errors like misspellings, mismatched photographs, or gender inaccuracies, either at update centers or online at www.ec.or.ug/register.
• Integrate learners: Students who registered under NIRA’s learners project and have since turned 18 are encouraged to update their details using their National Identification Numbers (NIN).

Challenges and Solutions

Justice Byabakama acknowledged several hurdles in the update process:

• Limited registration kits: Only 2,703 kits out of the required 5,000 are available, prompting rotation schedules for high-population areas like Kampala, Wakiso, and Mukono.
• Aging equipment: Malfunctions in kits from the 2014/2015 NSIS project are being addressed by deployed technical teams.
• Citizenship verification: First-time registrants must present letters from GISOs or DISOs for verification, a process streamlined with security agencies.
• Low turnout: While not a mass registration, efforts to mobilize targeted groups and clarify the purpose of the exercise continue.

Preparations for Kawempe By-elections

Following the death of Hon. Ssegirinya Muhammad on 9th January 2025, by-elections for his parliamentary seat and the Directly Elected Councillor for Kazo-Angola Ward will be held concurrently. The EC will release the detailed program on 27th January 2025.

Justice Byabakama thanked stakeholders for their mobilization efforts and urged eligible citizens to register, verify, or update their details, emphasizing the constitutional right to vote as fundamental to democracy.

As the country moves closer to the 2025/2026 General Elections, the EC remains committed to ensuring a credible process that guarantees free, fair, and transparent outcomes.