The Electoral Commission (EC) has showcased the Biometric Voter Verification Kit (BVVK), a key technological safeguard to be used in the 2026 General Elections, in a live demonstration aimed at strengthening transparency, voter confidence and the integrity of the electoral process.

The demonstration, held on Wednesday at the EC headquarters in Kampala, was conducted for journalists, election observers and representatives of political parties. Although the statement was issued by the EC Chairperson, Justice Simon Byabakama Mugenyi, it was read on his behalf by the Deputy Chairperson, Hajjati Aisha Lubega.

A mock polling station was set up to allow participants to experience the voter verification process firsthand, as the Commission walked stakeholders through how voters will be identified and authenticated on polling day using biometric technology.

“The Electoral Commission has acquired 109,142 Biometric Voter Verification Kits which will be deployed during the 2025/2026 General Elections to improve the management and conduct of elections through accurate authentication of voter identity,” the statement read.

According to the Commission, the BVVK uses fingerprints and facial recognition to match a voter’s details with those contained in the Voters Register at a specific polling station. 

This, the EC says will help presiding officers confirm that a voter is indeed the rightful person registered to vote at that station.

“The system will ensure that only registered persons vote and that no voter votes more than once for the same election, thereby reinforcing the principle of one man or woman, one vote,” Hajjati Lubega read.

The Commission explained that officials at all levels, from the national headquarters to polling stations, are already undergoing training to competently operate the kits during the elections.

The live demonstration, the EC noted, is intended to demystify the technology and build public trust ahead of polling.

“The purpose of this demonstration is to sensitize stakeholders on polling day procedures, demonstrate how voters are identified using biometric and facial recognition technology, and build confidence, transparency and trust in the voter verification process,” the statement said.

Beyond the BVVK, the Commission also updated stakeholders on other key preparations, including the ongoing issuance of Voter Location Slips (VLS). The exercise, which began on December 15, 2025 and will end on January 13, 2026, is being conducted at parish and ward level across the country.

The VLS bears a voter’s photograph, names, date of birth and full polling location details, as well as a unique barcode that will be read by the BVVK machines on polling day.

“This exercise is a response to complaints raised in previous elections, where some voters reported difficulty in locating their polling stations,” the EC noted, adding that the slips are free of charge and must be collected in person.

The Commission further announced adjustments to polling dates for elections of representatives of Special Interest Groups, explaining that the changes are meant to allow affected voters to participate effectively in both the general elections and their respective electoral college processes.

As the session concluded, the EC invited stakeholders to actively observe, participate and ask questions about the BVVK system.

“We want stakeholders to clearly understand the safeguards in place to prevent multiple voting, impersonation and other electoral malpractices, and to appreciate how technology enhances the credibility, integrity and efficiency of our elections,” the statement emphasized.

The Commission reaffirmed its commitment to delivering free, fair and credible elections in 2026 with technology playing a central role in safeguarding the will of Ugandan voters.

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Uganda’s economy continued to register steady improvement in November 2025, supported by stronger private sector activity, easing inflationary pressures, and a sharp rise in export earnings, according to the Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development’s latest Performance of the Economy Report.

The report indicates that economic activity remained on an upward trajectory, as reflected in improvements across several high-frequency indicators that track real-time performance of the economy.

“Economic activity continued to improve in November 2025, as reflected by the upward trends in high-frequency indicators such as the Purchasing Manager’s Index and the Composite Index of Economic Activity,” the Ministry stated.

The Purchasing Manager’s Index rose to 53.8 in November from 53.4 recorded in October, signaling improved business conditions in the private sector. The increase was driven by higher new orders, rising output, and improved supplier delivery times, particularly in manufacturing, wholesale trade, and services.

“The improvement in the Purchasing Manager’s Index signifies expansion in business activity, with firms reporting increased demand and higher production levels,” the report noted.

Similarly, the Composite Index of Economic Activity rose to 183.50 in October 2025 from 182.40 in September, confirming a sustained recovery in overall economic performance. The index aggregates data from electricity generation, vehicle registrations, cement production and trade volumes, among others.

Business confidence remained firmly positive during the period, with the Business Tendency Index standing at 57.20 in November, well above the neutral 50 mark.

“Perceptions about doing business in Uganda remained positive, with optimism mainly expressed in the manufacturing, wholesale trade and services sectors,” the Ministry said, adding that firms expect continued growth in sales, employment and investment in the near term.

Inflation continued to ease, further strengthening the macroeconomic environment. Annual headline inflation declined to 3.1 percent in November from 3.4 percent in October, remaining comfortably within the Bank of Uganda’s medium term target.

The slowdown in inflation was largely driven by a reduction in food crop inflation, which fell to 4.0 percent from 6.1 percent in the previous month, supported by increased food supply following improved harvests. Core inflation also eased slightly to 3.2 percent.

“The decline in headline inflation was attributed to lower food crop prices and a moderation in core inflation, reflecting stable exchange rates and prudent monetary policy,” the report stated.

Uganda’s external sector performance improved significantly, with a sharp reduction in the merchandise trade deficit. On a year-to-year basis, the trade deficit narrowed by 70.4 percent, improving from $251.56 million in October 2024 to $74.46 million in October 2025.

This improvement was largely driven by a strong rebound in export earnings, which more than offset the increase in imports during the same period.

“Uganda’s merchandise exports nearly doubled, increasing by 94.4 percent from $769.62 million in October 2024 to $1,496.45 million in October 2025,” the Ministry reported.

The growth in exports was mainly attributed to higher earnings from coffee, gold, crude oil, related agricultural products, including simsim, palm oil, and sunflower, as well as industrial products, cocoa beans, and flowers.

While imports also increased by $549.74 million, reflecting higher demand for capital goods and intermediate inputs, the pace of export growth remained significantly stronger, resulting in an improved trade balance.

The Ministry noted that the positive performance of exports underscores the benefits of ongoing efforts to enhance value addition, diversify export products and expand access to regional and international markets.

Overall, the November 2025 economic performance reflects growing resilience of Uganda’s economy amid global uncertainties, supported by sound macroeconomic management, stable prices and improving business confidence.

“The continued improvement in economic indicators points to strengthening growth momentum and supports the outlook for sustained economic recovery,” the Ministry noted.

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Uganda Airlines is facing renewed scrutiny following a series of flight delays and cancellations that have left passengers stranded thus public criticism, particularly on social media.

Over the past week, intending travellers have shared accounts of missed flights and confusion at Entebbe International Airport, accusing the national carrier of poor communication and inadequate customer support. Some passengers said they were left waiting at check-in counters as schedules changed without clear explanations.

In a statement issued on December 13, the airline acknowledged disruptions to its scheduled operations, saying it was working to restore normal services. However, the explanation did little to calm frustrated travellers online.

The debate intensified after businessman Andrew Mwenda posted a video on X on December 15 showing congested check-in counters, unattended luggage, and stranded passengers.

“The tragedy happening at Uganda Airlines is far beyond even my worst predictions. One plane is stuck in Lagos, another in London, passengers stranded and the airline rapidly falling apart,” Mwenda wrote, in comments that quickly drew public attention. In the background of the video, a woman’s voice claims airline staff abandoned their counters after passengers complained about poor service.

Responding to the criticism, Uganda Airlines Executive Director Jenifer Bamuturaki strongly defended the airline, attributing the disruptions to unavoidable technical challenges rather than mismanagement.

“We’re having what we call aircraft on ground—one CRJ and one Airbus. There’s one in Lagos because we cannot find the spare part. It’s not because we don’t have it in our stores, but because it’s not a part that is ordinarily stocked,” Bamuturaki said.

She dismissed claims that aircraft were simultaneously stranded in multiple destinations.

“It is not true that we were stuck both in Lagos and London. As we speak now, the Airbus from London landed about an hour and a half ago. The disruptions are simply because we’ve had technicals,” she explained.

Bamuturaki noted that Uganda Airlines operates a small fleet, making it vulnerable when even a few aircraft are grounded.

“Remember, we have seven aircraft, including a leased one. When two are out, that already causes a knock-on effect; flights get delayed, flights get cancelled. That’s really what is causing all this,” she said.

She further pointed to operational constraints beyond the airline’s control.

“There’s something people may not have noticed. In the industry we have what we call NOTAMs—Notices to Airmen. Many regional airports we operate have restrictions on when we can land or take off. Once you have a delay at Entebbe, it affects your ability to land or depart elsewhere, forcing further delays and creating a ripple effect,” Bamuturaki added.

Acknowledging passenger frustration, the executive director conceded that the airline has fallen short of customer expectations.

“No, that’s not true that we are indifferent. We are letting down a lot of our customers. This is a high season, people are travelling for Christmas, children are finishing school and coming home. These disruptions are very annoying, and that’s why we’re seeing this negative but positive criticism,” she said.

She argued that public anger reflects emotional investment in the national carrier.

“The fact that people are upset means they have passion for Uganda Airlines. How we communicate and manage expectations is very important,” Bamuturaki said.

On mitigation measures, she explained that affected passengers are being assisted where possible.

“We are booking some passengers on different airlines, but because it’s peak season, most flights are already full. We are rescheduling others on our own flights and booking hotels. We have also optimised our schedule so that we don’t over promise until all aircraft are back on the line,” she noted.

Looking ahead, Bamuturaki said the airline’s focus is on consolidation rather than expansion.

She noted, “In 2026, we are not launching new routes. We want to improve our customer experience and business processes so that we can offer a consistently good service,” 

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