By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
KAMPALA
Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) has demanded explanations from the Electoral Commission after names of several of their candidates in Lira City have mysteriously disappeared from the national voters’ register.
This first came to light when the party’s campaign manager, who is also the UPC candidate for Lira City East mayoral seat, Denis Odongo, discovered that his details were not on the register. Further checks revealed that details of Gender Minister Hon. Betty Amongi, who is aspiring for Lira City Woman MP seat in the 2026elections, and party president Hon. Jimmy Akena was also missing.
Speaking to journalists at the party headquarters on Wednesday, Akena said that despite voting at the same polling station for the past four election cycles, his details are missing from the online verification system.
“I have voted for presidential, parliamentary, and district elections at the same station, but today, my name has disappeared. It is both perturbing and disturbing at this stage of the process,” he said, urging all Ugandans intending to contest or vote in 2026 to cross-check their details.
Akena cast doubt on the Electoral Commission’s credibility to organize the 2026 polls if the voters’ register remains incomplete.
“This is not just about us as candidates. If names of people who have consistently voted are missing, then the credibility of the process is at stake. We demand a clear and transparent explanation from the Electoral Commission,” he said.
He disclosed that his team has requested the full Lira City register for scrutiny “step by step” to establish why and how the names disappeared.
Although he cautioned against speculation, the UPC presidential hopeful warned that such anomalies, if not addressed, could undermine public trust in next year’s polls.
“As Ugandans, we deserve better. I hope and pray that we are not going to have external interferences which will affect the outcome of the 2026 election. My mission remains to present a credible, viable and workable blueprint for the future of Uganda,” he stated.
The party leadership has since appealed to all members and supporters across the country to verify their details online or at polling stations before the nomination period begins.
However, the Independent Electoral Commission has dismissed the claims as falsehoods, noting that both Akena and Amongi’s names are in the national register and locations they chose to vote from.
“Both Honorable Jimmy Akena and Honorable Betty Amongi are on the National Voter’s Register in the places and locations they elected and chose to vote from. Evidence to that effect that has been brought to their attention,” said Julius Mucunguzi, EC spokesperson.
