By Mulengera Reporters
The Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Norbert Mao, has announced that the government is preparing to introduce bills containing proposed electoral reforms ahead of the 2026 general elections.
During a parliamentary plenary session on Thursday, Mao revealed that the reforms include measures such as the introduction of body cameras at polling stations to ensure comprehensive recording of events during the voting process.
The Minister also stated that the proposed law seeks to introduce stricter penalties for presiding officers found guilty of aiding vote rigging. He emphasized that the government aims to implement robust technological measures to enhance election management, in line with recommendations made by the Supreme Court following the 2016 presidential election petition filed by former presidential candidate Amama Mbabazi.
“I already presented the bill to the Cabinet, but it was referred to a committee chaired by Hon. Chris Baryomunsi, the Minister of Information, ICT, and National Guidance, for further review. I hope that by Monday, he will report back to the Cabinet,” Mao explained.
He added, “Technology is crucial to addressing issues like ballot stuffing, where individuals who did not turn up at polling stations are recorded as having voted. The biometric records must match the number of ballots cast. Additionally, we have introduced a provision in the law that imposes up to five years of imprisonment for presiding officers whose polling station results do not align with the machine records.”
Mao assured legislators that the reforms would be tabled in Parliament after Cabinet approval, allowing MPs to review and improve the proposals further.
Progress on Reforms
The Minister’s remarks came in response to questions raised by Mathias Mpuuga, the former Leader of the Opposition in Parliament. Mpuuga questioned Mao’s apparent delay in pursuing previously discussed electoral reforms, including those related to political transitions.
“Some months back, Hon. Mao was very enthusiastic about electoral reforms. Allegedly, he had a comprehensive document on the subject, including transition matters. May we know if he is working on something fresh or if he needs help?” Mpuuga, the MP for Nyendo-Mukungwe Division in Masaka City, asked.
Last year, Mpuuga was granted leave to introduce several private member’s bills aimed at amending key laws, including the Constitution, the Presidential Elections Act (2005), the Parliamentary Elections Act (2005), the Electoral Commission Act (2005), and the Local Governments Act. However, he has yet to table the bills for the first reading.
Past Failures
In previous elections, the Electoral Commission deployed biometric machines for voter identification at polling stations. However, in many areas, the technology failed, forcing polling officials to revert to using manual registers.
Kampala Central MP Muhammad Nsereko expressed concerns that the government has ignored court recommendations to establish regulations governing the use of election technology.
Voter Registration Deadline
Meanwhile, MPs urged the Electoral Commission to extend the deadline for voter registration and updating the National Voters’ Register, which is set to conclude on Monday, February 10, 2025.
The ongoing exercise, conducted at the parish level from January 20 to February 10, has faced challenges, including a limited number of registration kits—only one per sub-county. Legislators warned that this could disenfranchise millions of eligible voters.
Minister Mao informed Parliament that the Electoral Commission is open to extending the deadline, depending on data collected by the end of the current exercise.
“In my conversation with the EC Chairman, I raised the possibility of extending the deadline. He assured me that if February 10 arrives and the exercise is incomplete, the Electoral Commission will announce corrective measures. For now, February 10 remains the deadline,” Mao stated.
Committee Recommendations
The Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee, after engaging with stakeholders such as the Electoral Commission and the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA), recommended that the EC consider extending the registration period.
The committee also highlighted concerns about the use of outdated computers, which have slowed the registration process and limited the number of individuals served daily-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).
