Moses Kayz Osiya. PHOTO/FILE/COURTESY
The readiness of Uganda's Electoral Commission (EC) to conduct the 2026 General Election warrants critical examination. While the EC has made significant strides in preparing for the elections, several challenges could potentially undermine the integrity and efficiency of the electoral process.
One of the primary concerns is the creation of new administrative units. The EC Chairperson, Justice Simon Byabakama, has appealed to the government to promptly consider and approve the creation of new administrative units as this is crucial in ensuring the electoral programme and budget are not destabilised.
However, delays in this process could lead to confusion and inefficiencies in the electoral process, since new administrative units may not be adequately prepared to handle the complexities of the elections.
The other challenge the EC and the general public face is the never-ending debate on electoral reforms.
Since the 2016 Supreme Court’s ruling on the Amama Mbabazi presidential election petition, in which the court issued a number of recommendations for electoral reforms that had to be implemented to ensure free and fair elections, nothing tangible has been done about it.
There have been no tangible electoral reforms tabled in Parliament for debate and approval.In September last year, civil society organisations (CSOs) under the umbrella body, Uganda National NGO Forum, proposed several electoral reforms which they say, if implemented, will ensure better participation of citizens.
The CSOs argued that the electoral rules are routinely ignored and elections are marred with irregularities that make the whole process lack credibility.They added that there is a consensus across the board that Uganda’s electoral process is broken and that there is a need to enact comprehensive constitutional, legal and political reforms if the country is to progress in its democratic trajectory.Therefore, delays by the Executive to enact the recommendations of the Supreme Court raise fears of a deliberate attempt to tilt the playing field in favour of the incumbent.
In July last year, Justice Byabakama said the Commission needs at least two years to implement electoral reforms. The EC chairperson emphasised that such reforms have financial implications for the Commission’s activities.
This means implications on the EC’s budget.Political observers say the delayed tabling of these reforms affects the entire election process.With the next election slated for early next year, one wonders whether the commission still has ample time to alter its programme to accommodate any changes in the electoral cycle.
The other hurdle the EC faces is the issue of Ugandans abroad.In 2020, the High Court in Kampala, presided over by Justice Lydia Mugambe, ruled that the EC makes arrangements for Ugandans in the Diaspora and prisoners to vote. The judge said the continued disfranchisement of this group of voters was against the 1995 Constitution.
However, in April last year, this newspaper quoted Foreign Affairs ministry officials as saying Ugandans abroad are unlikely to vote in the 2026 polls unless the government quickly forms a diaspora policy. According to the story, Uganda lags behind Rwanda, Kenya, and Tanzania, which have policies that simplify the government’s approaches to handling diaspora issues. The ministry estimated that more than 780,000 Ugandans were abroad as of 2020.
This number must have since increased given the number of migrant workers that Uganda churns out, especially in the Arab world.The general update of the National Voters' Register, scheduled to start on January 20, is a critical activity for ensuring all eligible Ugandans are registered to vote.However, there are concerns about the accuracy and completeness of the voters' register. In previous elections, there have been reports of discrepancies in the voters' register, including the inclusion of deceased individuals and the exclusion of eligible voters.
At the time of typing this, sources at the EC said the many activities, including updating or cleaning of the voters’ register were behind schedule.Whereas the EC advertised jobs for voter update officers, the recruitment exercise is yet to be completed.
The EC tags some of these challenges to inadequate or late release of funds. However, ensuring the accuracy and completeness of the voters' register is essential for a fair and transparent electoral process.
All these issues bring to the fore the question of whether we are actually ready for the next polls, let alone a free and fair election.
Moses Kayz Osiya is a lawyer and businessman.
Email: [email protected]
