By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
KAMPALA
A total of 620 polling stations across the country failed to begin the display of the National Voters’ Register and the Register for Special Interest Groups (SIGs), which officially commenced today, April 25.
According to the Electoral Commission (EC), the display exercise began today in 38,315 out of 38,935 polling stations nationwide and is scheduled to conclude on May 15, 2025. The display of the Register for SIGs also started today and will end on May 8, 2025.
“We are not worried by the claims of the political parties about having more numbers of registered members. They don’t worry us at all,” Justice Byabakama.
Addressing journalists at the EC headquarters on Friday, EC Chairperson Justice Simon Mugenyi Byabakama attributed the delay in the affected polling stations to technical issues encountered during the production of the registers.
“The exercise commenced today in all polling stations except 620, due to technical faults in the registers. This represents 1.6 percent of the total number of polling stations. However, 98.4 percent equivalent to 38,315 polling stations have commenced the exercise,” he stated.
The affected polling stations are spread across several districts, including Mityana (370), Kiryandongo (78), Mpigi (46), Kampala (18), Mbarara City (48), Masaka (2), Wakiso (13), Arua City (2), Buvuma (1), Fort Portal City (3), Kasanda (2), and Kitagwenda (1).
Justice Byabakama dismissed concerns that the omission was intentional, assuring the public that the issue is being addressed and that the affected areas will be given a 21-day period for the display once the registers are ready.
“I want to dissuade the notion that these polling stations were deliberately leftout. There was a technical glitch, and we are urgently working to resolve it so that the registers can be delivered, and voters in those areas can also verify their details,” Byabakama explained.
“So, it was nothing sinister. That’s all I want to say,” he added.
The Electoral Commission reiterated that the display exercise is aimed at ensuring a clean and accurate register ahead of the 2026 general elections. An online portal has also been made available for voters to verify and select their polling stations, particularly for those who without assigned locations.
Byabakama called on the public to actively participate in the exercise by checking the accuracy of their personal details in the register.
Additionally, the EC addressed concerns about inflated membership numbers reported by political parties such as the National Resistance Movement (NRM), which claims to have over 21 million members. Byabakama clarified that only citizens of voting age registered in the National Voters’ Register (NVR) are considered by the Commission.
“Political parties may register people who are not voters, including those under 18. But for us, what matters is whether someone is on the National Voters’ Register. So, we are not worried by the claims of the political parties. They don’t worry us at all,” Byabakama said.
“This display exercise is for all those who applied to be voters to come and confirm the accuracy of their names, photographs, and other details. The claims made by political parties do not concern us,” he added.
