The Electoral Commission has just thrown a lifeline to all those yet to register or update their voter details nationwide.
What was supposed to be the final day for registration on February 10, 2025, has now been pushed to February 17, 2025.
The move follows overwhelming feedback from various groups, with many urging for more time to ensure every eligible Ugandan gets a chance to register and transfer to their new polling stations.
Justice Byabakama Mugenyi Simon, Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, made the announcement and also confirmed that 361,432 new voters have been added, and 292,021 have already applied for transfers to new voting locations. But the numbers are still rising, and the Commission is not stopping until the last voter is accounted for.
“The Update Exercise started on January 20, 2025, with the aim of making sure eligible citizens 18 and above get registered to vote in the upcoming 2025/2026 General Elections. If you’re 18 and still not on the register, this is your moment to join Uganda’s democracy” he stated
While the process has seen enthusiastic support, there have been some bumps along the way. Byabakama notes that the limited number of voter registration kits from the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) have slowed things down, with some machines even breaking down on the job.
He however clarified that this extension is not fresh registration. ” If you’ve already registered but need to change your polling station or check if your details are correct, now’s the time to do it! If you’re one of the students registered by NIRA, now’s your chance to update your details and get a polling station near your home.“
Byabakama states that nearly 20 million registered voters now on the list and more being added each day.
“As of today, the National Voters Register stands at 19,925,574 (nineteen million nine hundred twenty-five thousand five hundred and seventy-four) voters.” he said
He further notes that the Commission will continue to provide updates, including during the Display Exercise in April-May 2025.
