Uganda begins packing presidential ballots ahead of 2026 general election
By Kenneth Mwenda, December 29, 2025Uganda’s Electoral Commission on Monday, December 29, 2025, began packing presidential ballot papers as part of preparations for the 2026 General Election, signalling a key step in the country’s election timeline.
In a statement posted on its official social media platforms, the commission said the exercise was carried out in the presence of representatives from political parties and candidates.
The commission said the move was meant to reinforce transparency, accountability and the inclusion of all stakeholders in the electoral process.
“The Electoral Commission today commenced the packing of presidential ballot papers as part of ongoing preparations for the forthcoming 2026 General Election,” the statement read.
The ballot packing comes at a time when the commission is under public scrutiny following claims by opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, over the integrity of the voters’ register.
Earlier, the Commission dismissed claims by the National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate that the National Voters Register (NVR) contains duplicate voters and that presidential candidates were denied access to the final register.
Kyagulanyi had claimed that some individuals were registered more than once to allow electoral fraud. He cited two voter location slips issued to people named Matovu Ronald, who share similar dates of birth, as evidence of deliberate multiple registration.
However, the Electoral Commission rejected the claims, saying it reviewed the documents and confirmed they belong to two different individuals registered in separate electoral areas.
“The voters are clearly distinguishable by their unique photographs,” the Commission said, adding that having similar names and dates of birth does not mean they are the same person.
Voter privacy
The Commission also addressed concerns about access to the voters’ register. It said it complied with Section 19 of the Electoral Commission Act by issuing soft copies of the register to all presidential candidates immediately after nomination on September 23 and 24, 2025.
According to the Commission, hard copies of the register, which are required for use on polling day, are still being finalised and will be released within the timeframe set by law.
To address fears of multiple voting, the Commission said it has strengthened the Biometric Voter Verification System. Voters will have to verify their identity using fingerprints or facial recognition before receiving a ballot paper.
“Without successful biometric verification, one will not be issued a ballot paper,” the Commission said, stressing the principle of one person, one vote.
The electoral body also warned against sharing personal voter details on social media, saying this would breach privacy laws. It said it will not publish photographs or personal information of voters in order to protect their privacy.