EC okays observers to monitor national voters register display

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The Electoral Commission has okayed international observers, embassies and civil society organisations to monitor the display of the national voters’ register that has been scheduled from April 25 to May 15, 2025.

Electoral Commission Chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama said this is aimed at ensuring transparency in the electoral process.

“Electoral Commission will accredit international and national observers to observe the various activities undertaken during the electoral process,” he said.

He made the remarks during a press conference at the agency’s headquarters in Kampala on Friday (April 25).

Byabakama appealed to international observers, diplomatic missions and regional bodies to submit their applications through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The chairperson of Electoral Commission, Simon Byabakama (left) and Brenda Nakiryowa sign langauage interpreter addressing a press conference at the commission headquarters in Kampala on April 25, 2025. (Photo by Francis Emorut)

Civil society organisations and individuals who want to monitor the display of the national voters’ registrer have been asked to submit their applications to the Electoral Commission through the online system www.ec.or.ug/accreditation.

“The Commission, therefore, invites expressions of interest from individuals, duly registered national organisations, and institutions, who wish to observe the said processes,” he said.

Applicants should provide evidence that governance is a key aspect of their activities, demonstrate a track record of credibility, demonstrate neutrality in the electoral process and show the ability to submit timely written observation reports.

The commission also allowed the political parties and organisations participating in the said elections to appoint agents to observe the electoral activities.

Interested organisations and institutions should also prove that their registration status with the respective regulatory authorities is up to date.

“The Electoral Commission shall provide all those accredited organisations with written clearance, relevant information, and identification tags to observe the various activities of the electoral process,” Byabakama told reporters.

He underlined the need for the successful applicants to abide by the laws of the Republic of Uganda, election observer guidelines and the Code of Conduct to be issued by the Electoral Commission.

Organisations and institutions will have to provide the Commission with the names of the individuals to be accredited, meet all their operational expenses and submit a report at the end of the election exercise.

Byabakama said a clean voters register is a cornerstone for conducting peaceful, free, fair and credible elections.

“The display exercise gives the electorate an opportunity to participate in the cleaning of the National Voters Register,” he said.

He appealed to the citizens to treat the voters’ registrar display exercise with utmost importance, as it will determine whether one will vote in the 2026 general elections.

The display exercise is to enable voters to:

▪️ Check for the correctness of their particulars on the Voters Register;

▪️ Confirm that their photographs appear against the correct particulars on the Register;

▪️ Raise objections to the inclusion and/or removal of a voter’s particulars from the Register;

▪️ Report to the Display Officer, the following categories of persons (if they appear on the Register) for removal:

a) Those who have died;

b) Those who are under 18 years of age;

c) Those who reside or originate from a parish other than the one they are registered in; and,

d) Those who appear more than once on the Voters Register

Byabakama urged voters to go to their respective polling stations during this period and check for the correctness of voter particulars to enable the Commission to produce a clean national register.