By Mutesi Phionah Uwase and Mercy Baluka,
KAMPALA
The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Vice Chairman, Robert Centenary, has accused the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) of conducting a parallel voter registration exercise to manipulate the Electoral Commission (EC) register, particularly in rural areas.
Addressing a press conference today, Centenary alleged that NRM operatives, in collaboration with EC officials, are misleading the public by mobilizing citizens for what is presented as an official registration exercise, creating confusion among voters.
He further claimed that the ruling party has gained unauthorized access to voter registers, raising concerns over potential electoral fraud ahead of the 2026 general elections.
“The NRM’s involvement in voter registration is not only illegal but also a deliberate attempt to manipulate the upcoming elections,” Centenary asserted.
The FDC leader also criticized the official voter registration process, describing it as slow, tedious, and inaccessible to many first-time voters due to bureaucratic requirements such as obtaining recommendation letters from Gombolola Internal Security Organizations (GISOs) and local chairpersons.
Centenary decried the limited number of EC staff on the ground, arguing that their mobility from one location to another has hindered efficiency.
“We demand that the Electoral Commission takes immediate action by extending the voter registration exercise by at least one month, procuring new equipment to fast-track the process, and halting the NRM’s parallel registration until the EC’s official exercise is concluded,” he stated.
The Electoral Commission is yet to respond to these allegations. However, concerns over the credibility of the voter registration process are likely to intensify as Uganda moves closer to the 2026 elections.
