The Electoral Commission has announced the conclusion of the National Voters Register display exercise across Uganda, except in 620 polling stations where the process was delayed due to technical challenges.
According to Justice Simon Byabakama, Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, the general display, which began on Friday, April 25, 2025, ended May 15, in most polling stations.
However, he confirmed that a statutory extension has been granted for polling stations affected by delays in register production.
“For the 620 polling stations, where the commencement of the display of the Voters’ Register was delayed due to technical challenges encountered during the production of the registers, the Commission will conduct the display for the full statutory period of twenty-one (21) days,” said Justice Byabakama.
He added, “This period is from 30th April 2025, when the display commenced in each of the affected areas. It will be concluded on 20 May 2025.”
He also noted that the display of Voters’ Registers for Special Interest Groups (SIGs)—including the Youth, Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), and Older Persons—was conducted from April 25 to May 8, 2025, and has officially ended.
“There shall be no extension of the Display exercise,” Byabakama emphasized.
The objective of the display was to allow voters to verify their details on the Voters Register and raise objections regarding individuals who may have been wrongly included or excluded. These include deceased persons, minors, people not resident in their registered parish, and those with multiple entries.
“During this exercise, we allowed members of the public to scrutinize the register and report to the Display Officer persons who had died, were under 18 years of age, resided or originated from another parish, or appeared more than once on the register,” he said.
He added that the Commission also displayed names of citizens verified by the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) but who had not selected polling stations.
“This display was intended to facilitate the assignment of polling stations to these individuals,” he explained.
With the display phase closing, the Commission will now proceed with the display of names of persons recommended for removal or inclusion by the Parish or Ward Tribunal. This exercise will run from May 16 to May 26, 2025, at all Parish/Ward headquarters.
“The purpose of this exercise is to enable any person who may have been wrongly recommended for deletion to raise an objection to the Parish/Ward Tribunal,” said Byabakama.
He explained that the tribunals are composed of two elders aged 60 and above (one male and one female), and three additional members nominated in consultation with political parties and organisations in the area. The members are appointed by the local Magistrate and are mandated to make final decisions regarding voter inclusion, deletion, or correction.
After the tribunals conclude their work, the Commission will collect all the returns and effect the approved changes to compile the final National Voters Register for the 2025/2026 General Elections.
“All complaints arising from the Display Exercise shall be addressed to the Returning Officers of the respective Electoral Districts,” Byabakama stated. “These shall be handled in accordance with Article 61(1)(f) of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda and Section 15 of the Electoral Commission Act, Cap 140.”
The finalized Voters Register will be used in the first cycle of the electoral roadmap, including the elections of Special Interest Groups Committees—Youths, PWDs, and Older Persons—scheduled for June 2025.
Justice Byabakama urged all registered voters to continue confirming their voting details through the Commission’s website: https://ec.or.ug/register, and called for continued stakeholder engagement.
“The Electoral Commission appreciates the support of various stakeholders in the electoral process for their role in mobilising the public to participate in the Display of the Register,” he said.
“We remind all stakeholders to participate in all electoral activities as scheduled in the Roadmap for the 2025/2026 General Elections,” he added.
