In just 21 days, the EC registers over 350k new voters

The Electoral Commission (EC) has announced an extension of the general updates to the national voters’ register, which was originally scheduled to end on February 10, 2025.

The new deadline for this extension will be Monday, February 17, 2025. The extension aims to give eligible Ugandan citizens more time to register and participate in the upcoming general elections in 2026.

Justice Byabakama Mugenyi Simon, chairperson of the Electoral Commission, announced the extension on Monday during a press briefing at the EC’s Kampala offices. Byabakama emphasized both the achievements of the update exercise and the challenges faced.

He stated that the extension was prompted by factors and requests from key stakeholders, as well as observations from the EC’s field teams, which revealed a large number of applicants seeking registration and transfer of their information across the country.

Among these factors is a significant public turnout. Since the exercise began on January 20, 2025, he said Ugandans have been very enthusiastic about registering as voters, applying for transfers, and verifying their information.

The EC also cited challenges related to registration, including technical difficulties stemming from the limited number of registration kits provided by the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA).

Additionally, older registration kits have been prone to malfunctions, which have hindered the registration process in several regions across the country.

The appeals for an extension have come from political leaders, civil society organizations, the legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee, youth groups, and members of the public, all advocating for a more comprehensive coverage of eligible voters.

One challenge faced is the situation of students registered by NIRA. Byabakama noted that many individuals who were registered by NIRA while still in school and have now reached the age of 18 require additional time to update their information and to be assigned to polling stations within their respective parishes.

The Commission, however, has reported notable advancements during the initial 21 days of the voter registration update exercise, with a total of 361,432 new voters added to the national voters’ register. Also, over 292,021 applications for voter transfers have been processed.

As a result, the current national voter register has 19,925,574 registered voters, up from 18,103,603 in the 2021 general elections.

Furthermore, during the extension period, the update exercise will take place daily, Monday through Sunday, between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. at designated update centers.

It is important to note that this extension is not intended to facilitate new voter registrations; rather, it allows Ugandans who have not yet registered to do so.

Registered voters who want to change their voting locations can still apply, as long as they provide proof of residence or origin in the new area.

The EC has urged all eligible citizens who have not yet registered or who want to change their polling stations to take advantage of this extension to ensure their ability to vote in the upcoming elections.

Meanwhile, Julius Mucunguzi, spokesperson for the Electoral Commission, stated that the remaining five days would be sufficient for all willing Ugandans to participate in the political process.

Mucunguzi also stated that the voter registration update, which began on January 20, is critical in determining the official number of voters ahead of the 2026 general election.