By Mulengera Reporters
The Electoral Commission has announced adjustments in the polling dates for elections of representatives of Special Interest Groups (SIGs) while unveiling new measures aimed at strengthening transparency and efficiency in the 2026 General Elections.
Addressing the media during an update on the implementation of the electoral roadmap, the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Justice Byabakama Mugenyi Simon, said the changes were intended to ensure effective participation of Special Interest Groups in both the general elections and their respective electoral college elections.
The revised dates affect elections for representatives of youths, workers, older persons, and persons with disabilities at both Parliamentary and Local Government Council levels.
Under the new arrangement, the National Conference for the election of Persons with Disabilities representatives to Parliament, initially scheduled for January 19, 2026, will now take place on February 3, 2026. Elections of councillors representing Special Interest Groups at Sub-county, Town and Municipal Division levels have been moved from January 19 to January 30, 2026.
The National Conference for the election of Workers Representatives to Parliament has been brought forward from January 21 to January 19, 2026, while the National Female Youth Representative election has shifted from January 28 to February 6, 2026. Regional conferences for the election of Regional Youth Representatives to Parliament will now be conducted on January 28 instead of February 6, 2026.
Justice Byabakama emphasized that all other polling dates under the electoral roadmap remain unchanged.
The Commission also announced the commencement of the issuance of Voter Location Slips (VLS), an exercise that began on December 15, 2025, and is expected to conclude on January 13, 2026.
According to the Commission, the voter slips are intended to help registered voters easily identify their polling stations ahead of polling day, following complaints in previous elections where voters struggled to locate their designated voting centres.
The slips are being distributed at Parish and Ward headquarters across the country under the supervision of Electoral Commission officials.
Each Voter Location Slip contains a voter’s personal details, including their photograph, names, date of birth, district or city, constituency, parish, and polling station. The slip also carries a unique barcode that will be scanned using Biometric Voter Verification machines deployed at polling stations during the elections.
Justice Byabakama stressed that the Voter Location Slip is free of charge and should only be collected by the voter in person from the designated Parish or Ward Supervisor.
He urged voters to safeguard the slips carefully to avoid tampering with the barcode, noting that only individuals whose details appear on the official Polling Day Register will receive the document.
The Commission further revealed that the slips will be used during four categories of elections in the 2026 General Elections, namely Presidential and Parliamentary elections, District and City Chairperson and Councillor elections, Municipality and City Division elections, as well as Sub-county, Town and Municipal Division elections.
In another major development, the Electoral Commission announced the acquisition of 109,142 Biometric Voter Verification Kits (BVVK), which will be deployed countrywide during the 2025/2026 General Elections.
The biometric kits will use fingerprint and facial recognition technology to authenticate voters before they are allowed to cast their ballots.
According to Justice Byabakama, the system is designed to strengthen electoral integrity by ensuring that only duly registered voters participate in the elections and that no individual votes more than once.
“The system will help the Commission achieve the One-Man, One-Woman, One Vote principle,” he said.
The Electoral Commission disclosed that training of election officials on the operation of the biometric kits is already underway, covering personnel from the national level down to polling station officials.
As part of efforts to build public trust and confidence in the electoral process, the Commission conducted a public demonstration of the Biometric Voter Verification System (BVVS), allowing stakeholders to observe how the technology works.
The demonstration aimed at sensitizing the public on polling day procedures, explaining how biometric and facial recognition technology will be used to verify voters, and showcasing safeguards designed to prevent electoral malpractices such as multiple voting and impersonation.
The Commission said the exercise was also intended to promote transparency and improve public understanding of how technology can enhance the credibility and efficiency of elections.
Justice Byabakama thanked stakeholders for participating in the demonstration and reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to delivering free, fair, and credible elections in 2026.
He later invited the Director of Technical Support Services to lead participants through a live demonstration of the Biometric Voter Verification Kits. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
