Ugandan activist calls for mass marches over voter registration closure, mobilizing over 1 million citizens

Dr. Dennis Daniel Ssemugenyi, Chairman of the Agents of Change (AOC), has announced a sweeping nationwide mobilization, declaring that over 1 million Ugandans across all 136 districts are set to march to Electoral Commission (EC) offices. The objective is to demand the immediate reopening of the national voter register ahead of the 2026 General Elections.

In a fervent statement titled “UGANDA RISES: 7500 People Per District!”, Dr. Ssemugenyi stated that the movement, representing “The Silent Majority,” will consist of approximately 7,500 individuals per district, totaling over 1,020,000 people. He emphasized that the demonstrations would be peaceful, driven by “clarity, courage, and constitutional conviction.”

According to Dr. Ssemugenyi, the decision to mobilize comes after “thousands of Ugandans—young and old, urban and rural—have reached out to us at Agents of Change (AOC)” expressing frustration over their inability to register. Many have recently turned 18, relocated, returned from the diaspora, or were simply never captured in previous registration exercises. With only seven months remaining until the 2026 elections, the Electoral Commission’s closure of voter registration has left a significant portion of the population disenfranchised, he asserted.

“I want to vote. But I’m not on the register,” Dr. Ssemugenyi quoted as the common refrain from concerned citizens.

The Agents of Change contend that the Electoral Commission’s actions are unconstitutional. Dr. Ssemugenyi cited Article 61(1)(e) of the Constitution of Uganda, which mandates the EC to “compile, maintain, revise and update the voters register on a continuous basis.” He argued that this implies the register should be continuously open, not closed six months before an election or confined to a narrow window.

While the Electoral Commission has reportedly defended its decision by citing “preparation time” and the need to avoid “voter surges” close to polling day, Dr. Ssemugenyi dismissed these explanations as “lazy and legally hollow.” He suggested that if the EC genuinely feared a surge, it would increase registration efforts rather than halt them.

“Let’s call it what it is: a voter freeze to protect the status quo,” Dr. Ssemugenyi declared. “Closing registration this early creates a controlled, limited voter roll—a manufactured electorate, designed to serve the political ambitions of the incumbent regime. This is not just unconstitutional. It is electoral engineering. It is democratic sabotage.”

The AOC chairman confirmed he has officially written to the Uganda Electoral Commission, notifying them of the impending coordinated demonstrations. The demands laid out by the movement are clear:

• Reopen the National Voters Register immediately.
• Allow continuous registration up to two weeks before the 2026 election.
• Respect the law, the people, and the spirit of Uganda’s democracy.

Dr. Ssemugenyi framed the mobilization not as a mere protest, but as a “civic resurrection.” He issued a direct appeal to the Hon. Justice Simon Mugenyi Byabakama, Chairman of the Electoral Commission, stating, “Uganda is calling. Open the Register NOW.”

In a highly personal concluding statement, Dr. Ssemugenyi emphasized his leadership role in the movement, asserting it was “not by permission, but by divine conviction.” He added, “My steps are ordered by the Lord, and my voice is stirred by His Spirit. This mission is not born of ambition, but of obedience—and I shall not be silent.”

The Agents of Change are urging Ugandans to “Share. Mobilize. March. Until the voter register is Reopened!” with the powerful closing message: “If they close the register, they close the Constitution. But if the people rise, the system must open.”