EC receives presidential ballot papers for 2026 general election

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The Electoral Commission (EC) on Wednesday (December 24) received the first consignment of presidential ballot papers, which arrived aboard a chartered aircraft from Dubai at Entebbe International Airport.

The shipment comprised 193 pallets of presidential ballot papers and was received by EC chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama, his deputy Aisha Lubega, commissioner Stephen Tashobya, other senior commission staff, stakeholders and independent observers.

The ballot papers were printed by Dubai-based Al Ghurair Printing and Publishing Company, one of the firms that earlier this year successfully won the tender to print ballot papers and declaration of results forms.

Although the total number of registered voters stands at 21,681,491, Byabakama said the number of ballot papers printed is slightly higher than the voter register.

"Because if a voter inadvertently or unintentionally spoils his or her ballot paper before casting it in the ballot box, the law allows him or her to return it to the presiding officer and get another ballot paper. That is why we print a higher number of ballot papers than the number of registered voters," Byabakama explained.

After offloading, the ballot paper pallets were transported from Entebbe Airport to the EC warehouses, as the commission awaits another consignment of ballot papers for Members of Parliament, expected to arrive on Thursday, December 25.

A folk lift pulling pallets of the presidential ballot papers from the aeroplane to the waiting truck to be transported to the EC warehouse.

Byabakama said all presidential candidates had been notified and invited to witness the arrival of the ballot papers.

Representatives of presidential candidates Yoweri Museveni of the National Resistance Movement, Mugisha Muntu of the Alliance for National Transformation and Robert Kasibante of the Peasants Party were present during the offloading exercise. 

Lawyer Usaama Sebuufu, who represented Museveni, said the exercise was part of a democratic process that allows stakeholders to witness the arrival of election materials, including ballot papers.

This position was echoed by Hadijah Namyalo, head of the NRM Office of the National Chairman, who said the transparency demonstrated by the Electoral Commission points to a fair and democratic electoral process.

"Different stakeholders and independent observers were invited to witness while the electoral commission was receiving a consignment of 60,000 biometric voter verification kits on October 28. Again, different stakeholders have been invited to witness the arrival of ballot papers. All this points to a transparent process," Namyalo said.

However, Nelson Agaba, who represented presidential candidate Mugisha Muntu, expressed dissatisfaction, saying the Electoral Commission did not provide candidates with a packing list that would enable them to verify whether the correct number of ballot papers had been shipped into the country.

"We also ask the electoral commission to release an official register, clearly displaying even the mugshots of different candidates contesting for the country's top office," Agaba said.

Bruce Muhangi, who represented Robert Kasibante of the National Peasants Party, also raised concerns, saying political parties had requested to witness the printing, packing and delivery of the ballot papers but were not granted the opportunity.

"But they did not give us that chance. As of now, we cannot be sure of what they have brought. Still, we cannot also be sure of how the storage of these items will be and how secure they can be," Muhangi said.

In May this year, the Electoral Commission issued a tender for the printing and supply of ballot papers, declaration of results forms and statements of ballot papers for the 2026 general elections. The procurement process, conducted through open international bidding, saw Al Ghurair Printing and Publishing Company emerge as the winner.

Six companies, including four foreign and two local firms, were selected as the best evaluated bidders to print election materials.

The foreign firms are Al Ghurair, Uniprint Global, Inform Lykos of Greece and Sintel Security Print, while the local companies are Picfare Industries Limited and Graphics Systems Limited.

According to the Electoral Commission, Uganda currently has 146 districts, 312 counties and 353 constituencies. The country has 50,739 polling stations and a total of 21,681,491 registered voters as of November 13.