By Mulengera Reporters
The challenges experienced with Uganda’s Biometric Voter Verification Kits (BVVKs) during the January 15 presidential and parliamentary elections have been linked to a combination of last-minute operational changes, technical adjustments and difficulties faced by some election officials in adapting to the new system under extraordinary circumstances.
The biometric system, introduced by the Electoral Commission of Uganda to strengthen election credibility and curb electoral fraud, encountered disruptions at several polling stations across the country, forcing officials in some areas to temporarily rely on manual voter registers to ensure citizens exercised their constitutional right to vote.
The development has since prompted investigations ordered by President Yoweri Museveni after he personally experienced delays while casting his ballot in Kiruhura District.
Despite the setbacks, Electoral Commission officials insist that extensive preparations and training had been conducted before polling day.
The EC spokesperson, Julius Mucunguzi, said election staff had been trained and equipped with the skills needed to operate the technology.
“We trained all our staff and equipped them with the necessary skills. We did everything required to ensure the elections proceeded smoothly,” Mucunguzi said before polling day.
The Commission had procured the BVVK machines from Chinese technology firm Simi Valley Technologies at a reported cost of more than Shs150 billion for deployment at all 50,739 polling stations nationwide.
The machines were designed to authenticate voters through QR code scanning, fingerprint verification and facial recognition, while also verifying ballot papers to prevent the use of unauthorized ballots.
However, sources familiar with the ongoing inquiries say some of the difficulties emerged from operational changes introduced shortly before polling day.
According to officials, training of trainers was conducted between December 15 and 19, 2025, while most polling officials received hands-on training on January 8, only days before the elections.
Some officials reportedly struggled to fully familiarize themselves with the new digital procedures within the limited timeframe.
The situation became more complicated after the Commission organised an emergency refresher training session on January 14 for returning officers, presiding officers and BVVK operators following the discovery of restrictions within the login protocols.
The system reportedly allowed access only to personnel assigned to specific districts, meaning some previously deployed officers were unable to immediately access the devices.
At the same time, the nationwide internet shutdown created additional logistical challenges for officials who had to rely on offline procedures to update voter databases and synchronize new QR code protocols.
Sources indicate that only a limited number of districts, including Sheema, Rubirizi, Kapchorwa, Bulambuli, Sironko, Namisindwa and Bukwo, successfully completed all the required updates in time for seamless biometric verification.
Nevertheless, the Electoral Commission maintained that the technology itself remained an important safeguard for election integrity.
During a public demonstration held in December 2025, EC officials had showcased how the system would work by scanning QR codes on voter location slips or National Identification cards to retrieve voter details from the national register.
The machine would then confirm a voter’s identity using fingerprints or facial recognition before displaying polling station details and voting status.
The Commission had also highlighted additional security features capable of detecting unauthorized ballot papers through barcode verification.
President Museveni later expressed disappointment over the disruptions after his fingerprints reportedly failed to authenticate, forcing officials to verify him using facial recognition technology instead.
“Was this deliberate? We are going to check that,” the President said after voting.
Following the disruptions, EC Chairperson Simon Byabakama invoked powers under the Electoral Commission Act to authorize the temporary use of manual voter registers where necessary.
Byabakama emphasized that no Ugandan should be denied the opportunity to vote because of technical interruptions, describing voting as a “supreme and sacred” constitutional right.
Election analysts say the experience has provided important lessons for future digital elections, particularly regarding training timelines, operational testing and contingency planning.
Despite the glitches, many observers note that the introduction of biometric technology marks a significant step in Uganda’s efforts to modernize its electoral system and improve transparency in future polls.
The Electoral Commission has since pledged to study the challenges encountered during the elections and strengthen the biometric system ahead of future electoral exercises. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
