By Mulengera Reporters
The Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee has been directed to engage the Electoral Commission (EC) and other stakeholders over the inadequate number of voter registration kits ahead of the 2026 general elections.
Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa referred the matter to the committee after lawmakers raised concerns about the ongoing voter register update exercise. This followed a statement presented by Deputy Attorney General Jackson Kafuuzi during Tuesday’s plenary sitting.
Tayebwa ruled against a motion without notice, moved by Leader of the Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi, urging the government to extend the voter registration period by two months due to challenges encountered in the first week of the exercise. Instead, he tasked the committee with investigating the matter.
“We have issues beyond the EC, involving agencies like UBOS (Uganda Bureau of Statistics) and NIRA (National Identification and Registration Authority). The Attorney General alone cannot address these concerns. I refer this statement to the committee, which should meet NIRA, UBOS, and EC. We can handle this on Wednesday and Thursday, then debate it next Tuesday for three hours. The committee report will provide clear recommendations,” Tayebwa guided.
Aging Equipment and Insufficient Kits
In his statement, Kafuuzi admitted to technical glitches with the machines, attributing them to the age of equipment procured a decade ago.
“Some faulty machines have been reported at various stations. The equipment being used was first procured for the 2014/2015 mass enrollment exercise under the National Security Information System (NSIS) Project, the predecessor of NIRA. This explains the breakdowns. Our teams are on standby to respond to any malfunctions,” Kafuuzi stated.
He revealed that only 2,703 kits have been deployed for the national voter register update, far short of the 5,000 kits required. He also noted that densely populated districts like Kampala, Wakiso, and Mukono have only two kits per sub-county, while other districts have one kit per sub-county.
Alarm Over Disenfranchisement Risks
Lawmakers expressed outrage over the EC’s lack of preparedness, warning that millions of first-time voters could be disenfranchised if the shortage of kits and technical failures persist.
Obongi County MP George Bokha questioned how outdated equipment could efficiently update the register, register new voters, and extract data for special interest groups.
“At my polling station, only one old machine was in use, with the entire parish electoral team waiting for it. There was no voter register to verify my name. Our district lacks electricity, so the machine relied on a battery that lasted only two hours before needing a recharge. The community feedback is clear: we need more machines,” Bokha said.
Kashari North MP Bazil Bataringaya warned that voter data could be lost due to the use of obsolete equipment.
“Electronic equipment has a lifespan. If these machines were procured in 2014, they are long past their prime. How can we expect reliable results from them?” he asked.
Concerns Over Extortion and Manipulation
Mukono Municipality MP Betty Nambooze proposed assigning one kit per polling station to ease the financial burden on voters traveling to update centers. She also condemned the extortion by some local officials.
“LC I officials are charging voters UGX 5,000 for transfer letters, while others demand up to UGX 30,000. Elections are not rigged on voting day; they are manipulated throughout the process,” Nambooze remarked.
She further criticized the EC for using 2014 census data to determine constituencies, arguing that the 2024 census results are not yet gazetted.
“We are preparing for a 2026 election using 2014 data. This process is already flawed. Parliament must intervene to halt the exercise until proper preparations are made,” she asserted.
Missing Census Equipment
Butambala County MP Muwanga Kivumbi called on the government to account for census equipment worth $100 million, which Parliament had allocated to UBOS with the expectation that it would later aid the EC.
“When we approved $100 million for UBOS equipment, the justification was that it would be transferred to the EC for elections. Where is that equipment?” Kivumbi asked.
He also pointed out that the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) was supposed to be the central data hub for government agencies, including the EC, yet voter registration remains chaotic.
Opposition Suspects Voter Suppression
Opposition MPs suggested that the government could be deliberately limiting youth voter registration to influence the 2026 election in favor of President Yoweri Museveni, who is seeking a seventh term.
Ndorwa East MP and Shadow Attorney General Wilfred Niwagaba argued that even 5,000 kits would not be enough to serve Uganda’s 30,000 polling stations, urging the government to address voter concerns immediately.
“The statement mentions troubleshooting teams for technical issues but doesn’t clarify how many people are assigned to the 2,703 kits. I propose that Parliament rejects this statement and demands a clear plan from the Attorney General,” Niwagaba suggested.
The voter register update is set to be completed by February 10, after which the final register will be compiled and later displayed at polling stations. However, previous elections have been marred by complaints of voters being removed or transferred to distant polling stations, raising fears of a repeat in 2026.
The Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee is expected to report back next week, outlining possible solutions to the logistical and technical challenges threatening Uganda’s electoral process-Parliament Watch. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
