Electoral Commission extends deadline for voters registry update exercise
"During the extension, the exercise will continue to be conducted at update stations starting from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm, every day, including weekends.
The chairperson of the Uganda Electoral Commission (EC), Justice Simon Byabakama, Monday announced that they have extended the nationwide Voter Register update by seven days, starting tomorrow, Tuesday, 11th January 2025, to 17th February 2025.
Byabakama said this decision was reached at after the Commission taking into account its observations in the field and assessment and appeals from stakeholders.
“Since the commencement of the Update Exercise on 20th January, 2025, members of the Commission, management, and staff have been in the field in the different regions of the country.
“Supervising the exercise, monitoring progress, listening to stakeholders, taking stock of emerging issues, and getting a practical feel and appreciation of the challenges faced and the solutions being applied.
“Since the start of the exercise, commendable progress has been made in registering new voters, effecting transfers for those who wish to change their voting locations, and facilitating those who come to check for the correctness of their particulars.
“However, we have also received reports and observed ourselves some challenges that have affected the pace of the Update Exercise, notably the limited number of registration kits from NIRA and their occasional breakdowns due to old age.
361,432 new voters
“In spite of the challenges faced since the commencement of the update exercise, as of today, 361,432 new voters have been added to the National Voters Register while 292,021 applications for transfers have been made. This figure does not include the learners who were registered by NIRA and whose data is still being processed.
“As you are aware, 18,103,603 (eighteen million one hundred and three thousand six hundred and three) voters were registered for the 2020/2021 General Elections. Since then, the Voter Register has been updated through voter registration exercises.
Only 19 million voters on the register
“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.
“The Commission, taking into account its observations in the field and assessment, as well as appeals from stakeholders, among other reasons.
“The EC has decided, therefore, to extend the Update Exercise for seven (7) days, starting Tuesday 11th and ending Monday 17th February 2025, after which there will be no further extension.
“During the extension, the exercise will continue to be conducted at update stations starting from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm, every day, including weekends.
