UGANDA DECIDES: I,655 election observers accredited

The Electoral Commission (EC) yesterday, Tuesday, January 13, 2026, confirmed it had fully dispatched all the required voting materials to the 146 districts across the country ahead of the presidential and parliamentary elections tomorrow, Wednesday, January 15, 2026.

The distribution of the materials in the different districts was witnessed by security agencies, political parties and the media to promote transparency.
In Arua district, 192 black ballot boxes and ink were received, while Arua city returning officer Osman Ezale confirmed receipt of 446 ballot boxes to serve three constituencies of Ayivu West, Arua Central Division and Ayivu East.

Boniface Alioni, the chairperson National Resistance Movement (NRM) Arua district, commended the EC for the transparency exhibited.
Nelson Aniku, the chairperson National Unity Platform in Arua district, also said the transparency exhibited by the EC so far helps to build confidence among the opposition political players.

KAGADI
Kagadi district received 543 ballot boxes for 208,121 registered voters, with a few damaged seals replaced. In Sheema district, four boxes were found with broken seals during delivery, but officials said the issue was resolved immediately. Across Bushenyi, Sheema, Buhweju, Mitooma, and Rubirizi, a total of 1,519 ballot boxes were distributed.

In the Teso sub-region, including Soroti, Serere and Katakwi, returning officers confirmed receipt of all required materials, completion of polling officials’ training and heightened security, with Katakwi deploying three police officers per polling station.
Gulu city received 762 ballot and transparent boxes, while Yumbe district received 363 black boxes containing ballot papers and voter registers.

TESO
The Teso regional elections officer, Christine Eyuu, said: “All districts have received the necessary voting materials, and the training of polling officials has been concluded successfully. We are ready for Thursday.”

In Jinja, one box with a broken seal was replaced and reported. Kasese district received 1,036 boxes, while Wakiso returning officer Tolbert Musinguzi confirmed receipt of two biometric voter verification (BVVR) machines for each of the 2,452 polling stations in the district.
Across the central southern region, 16 districts have received materials, with the EC officials, saying preparations are complete, although some districts are still awaiting final delivery of BVVK machines.

OBSERVERS
Likewise, the EC has accredited 1,655 observers from European Union missions (70), the UK (39), the US (44), China (5), Korea (5), African Union (34), East African Community (62), International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (25), Intergovernmental Authority on Development (20), Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (15), among others.

The head of the EAC mission, Ambassador Edda Mukabagwiza, said the team will observe and assess the electoral process in an independent, impartial and objective manner, in line with the EAC Treaty, EAC election observation principles, Uganda’s electoral laws and applicable African Union and international standards. She made the remarks during the flag-off ceremony at Imperial Royale Hotel in Kampala yesterday, Tuesday, January 13, 2026.

“This initiative is guided by the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community, particularly Articles 3 and 6(d), which emphasise democratic principles, the rule of law, good governance, and respect for human rights,” Mukabagwiza said.

She was accompanied by the EAC secretary general, Veronica Nduva and the deputy head of the election observation mission, Maina Karobia, who is also a member of the East African Legislative Assembly.

VOTING PROCESS
EC chairperson Justice Simon Mugenyi Byabakama while addressing the media at their officers in Kampala yesterday, Tuesday, January 13, 2026, revealed that all the voting materials will be dispatched to the 50,739 polling stations across 146 districts tomorrow starting at 3:00am.

“We have already informed the agents of the presidential candidates and political parties to come and witness where we stored the items and how they will be loaded for distribution,” Byabakama said.

He explained that voting would start at 7:00am and end at 4:00pm. However, all those in the line by 4:00pm will be allowed to vote. He said the presiding officer has no powers to chase away voters who have arrived to vote in time.
Voting can only begin if at least 10 voters are present at the polling station to witness the opening of the voting materials.

Byabakama said after the campaigns, which ended at 6:00pm yesterday, Tuesday January 13, 2026 (for rallies) and midnight (for radio or TV programmes), no candidate will be permitted to move around with mobile sound systems airing out music or messages in support of his or her candidature or campaign by agents.

Byabakama said today (Wednesday) should be a rest day to allow the candidates and with their campaign teams to put finishing touches to their campaigns.

“What is not prohibited under the law are meetings of the candidates with his agents for purposes of planning for polling day. Facilitation for those agents is also permitted. What is not permitted is canvassing for votes from voters,” Byabakama said.
Byabakama said no campaigns are permitted on the polling day. “If you are going to the polling station to cast your votes, you are not permitted to go putting on any attire that bears a message in support of any candidate or a portrait of the candidate, or colours of your party. Please avoid wearing such attire.”

INVALID VOTES
Byabakama clarified that a ballot remains valid as long as the voter’s intention is clear, even if the tick or thumbprint is placed on a candidate’s photo, name, or symbol instead of in the designated box. However, a vote becomes invalid if the mark crosses from one candidate to another, making the voter’s choice unclear, or if unrecognised marks such as words or crosses are used, since the law only recognises a tick or thumbprint.

Byabakama said a voter who makes an error on a ballot paper may return it to the presiding officer and receive a replacement, provided the ballot has not yet been placed in the ballot box. Such a ballot is recorded as a spoilt ballot, but once it is cast into the ballot box, it cannot be replaced.
Byabakama warned media outlets or individuals against announcing results prematurely and said only the commission had the authority to declare election results. “You can [only] relay or report what EC has released to the country,” the EC chairperson said.

POLLING STATION
The EC demonstrated the layout of a polling station with Byabakama saying the law prescribes that the first table will have an operator with the biometric voter verification (BVVR) machine, presiding officer with the voters’ register and the ballot papers.

“That table is where the voter will be identified and confirmed biometrically either using the fingerprints or the facial features before proceeding to the booth with an open basin for one to either tick or thumbprint his/ her candidate of choice,” Byabakama explained.

He said on the third table is the ballot box where voter is required to insert his ticked ballot paper. He said after the voter’s thumb has been inked as proof that they have voted, they will exit the polling station.

The EC chairperson said the law provides closure of bars next to the polling stations. “For those with bars next to the polling station, the law says you shall not sell any liquor within 100 metres of the polling station. Please close the bar. You will not collapse if you only closed for one day. It will be very dangerous. People will go and drink and before you know it, drunkards will invade the polling station and chaos will ensue,” Byabakama said.

Compiled by Charles Etukuri, Paul Kiwuuwa, Faustine Odeke, Job Nantakiika, Robert Adiga, Andrew Musinguzi, Bruno Mugizi, Godfrey Ojore, Claude Omona, Adam Gule, Jackie Nambogga, Samuel Amanyire, Johnisani