Electoral Commission Begins Nationwide Display of National Voters Register Ahead of 2025–2026 General Elections

Justice Byabakama Reaffirms Commitment to a Credible and Inclusive Electoral Process

In preparation for Uganda’s 2025–2026 General Elections, the Electoral Commission (EC) has officially commenced the Display of the National Voters Register, a pivotal step in ensuring transparency and inclusiveness in the electoral process. This exercise, a constitutional and statutory requirement, will run from 25th April to 15th May 2025, covering all polling stations across the country.

Addressing the nation, Justice Byabakama Mugenyi Simon, Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, emphasized that the exercise is a crucial component of the electoral roadmap, aimed at cleaning the voters' roll to guarantee a credible election.

“As of today, 25th April 2025, the Electoral Commission has deployed officers across the country to begin the display of the National Voters Register and Special Interest Groups (SIGs) Registers at all polling stations,” Justice Byabakama stated.

Electoral Statistics Snapshot

The current electoral framework comprises:

146 Cities/Districts

312 Counties

353 Constituencies

2,191 Sub-counties/Towns/Municipal Divisions

10,716 Parishes

71,208 Villages

38,315 Polling Stations

The display is being conducted daily from 8:00am to 6:00pm, including weekends, at all designated polling stations.

Technical Setbacks in Select Areas

Despite the wide coverage, the Commission noted technical challenges in producing registers in some areas, which has delayed the start of the exercise in specific districts and cities. A total of 620 polling stations (1.6% of the national total) will not commence the display on the scheduled date. These are distributed as follows:

District/City 

No. of Polling Stations

1 Arua City 02

2 Buikwe 01

3 Buvuma 01

4 Fort Portal City 03

5 Kampala 18

6 Kassanda 02

7 Kikuube 15

8 Kiryandongo 78

9 Kitagwenda 01

10 Masaka City 02

11 Mbarara City 48

12 Mityana 370

13 Mpigi 46

14 Mukono 32

15 Wakiso 13

The Commission has assured the public that all affected areas will receive their full 21-day statutory display period once the registers are ready.

Display of SIG Registers

Simultaneously, the Special Interest Groups (SIGs) Registers for Youths, Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), and Older Persons are also being displayed from 25th April to 8th May 2025 at village level.Criteria for verification include:

Youths: Aged 18–29 as of 17th February 2025

PWDs: Verification of disability status

Older Persons: Aged 60 and above as of 17th February 2025

Purpose and Public Role

The display process enables voters to:

Confirm the accuracy of their personal details

Raise objections for wrongful inclusions

Report deceased, underage, duplicated or non-resident individuals

Present cases for missing names or registration errors

Additionally, a list of citizens verified by NIRA but who did not specify polling stations is available at Parish/Ward headquarters and on the EC’s portal: www.ec.or.ug/register.

Post-Display Activities

From 16th to 26th May 2025, supplementary lists of recommendations for inclusion or deletion will be displayed at Parish/Ward Headquarters. These decisions will be adjudicated by the Parish/Ward Tribunal, which comprises locally appointed members under the supervision of area magistrates.

Observer Accreditation Now Open

Justice Byabakama also revealed that the Commission is now accepting applications for the accreditation of both local and international election observers via www.ec.or.ug/accreditation . 

Eligible organizations must demonstrate:

Engagement in governance-related work

Institutional neutrality and credibility

Capacity to professionally observe elections

Invitations to diplomatic missions and international bodies will be coordinated through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Justice Byabakama called upon all Ugandans, especially those eligible to vote, to actively participate in the display exercise as it forms the foundation of their voting rights in the upcoming General Elections.

“This is a critical opportunity for citizens to scrutinize the Register and ensure that only eligible persons remain on the roll. Let us embrace this civic duty to enhance electoral integrity,” he urged.

The Electoral Commission also reminded the public that:

No new applications or transfers are allowed during the display

Any discrepancies in National ID details (e.g., name or date of birth) must be reported with valid supporting evidence

The exercise is open to observation by political party agents and the public Sensitization campaigns are ongoing in all regions

Complaints should be formally addressed to the District Returning Officer, in line with Article 61(1)(f) of the Constitution and Section 15 of the EC Act.

For More Information Citizens are encouraged to visit the Electoral Commission website at www.ec.or.ug or contact their local EC offices for additional information.