EC extends national voters’ register update deadline to 17th February 2025

10 February 2025, 6:15 pm

By Ronald Ssemagonja

The Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Justice Simon Byabakama Mugenyi, made this announcement during a press briefing at the Electoral Commission headquarters in Kampala. He highlighted both the progress made in the voter update exercise and the challenges encountered.

The extension follows appeals from key stakeholders and observations from the Electoral Commission’s field teams, which noted a high turnout of applicants seeking registration and transfer services across the country.

This extension, running from Tuesday, February 11, to Monday, February 17, 2025, aims to provide additional time for eligible Ugandan citizens to register and participate in the upcoming 2025/2026 General Elections.

The decision to extend the update exercise was influenced by several factors, including the high public turnout since the exercise began on January 20, 2025. Ugandans have demonstrated great enthusiasm in registering as voters, applying for transfers, and verifying their details. The surge in participation has resulted in long queues at update centers, necessitating additional time to accommodate all eligible applicants.

According to the chairperson, technical difficulties with registration kits posed a challenge. “We faced technical difficulties due to the limited number of registration kits obtained from the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA). The old-age kits have been prone to breakdowns, slowing down the registration process in various regions,” Byabakama said.

Stakeholders had been appealing to the Commission to extend the exercise for various reasons. Political leaders, civil society organisations, the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee, youth groups, and members of the public all requested an extension to ensure comprehensive coverage of eligible voters. Their concerns were taken into consideration before the EC granted the extension.

The Commission also noted that students previously registered by NIRA needed more time. “Many students who were initially registered by NIRA while in school and have since turned 18 need additional time to update their details and be assigned polling stations within their parishes of residence or origin,” Byabakama explained.

Despite these challenges, the Electoral Commission has reported significant progress during the first 21 days of the update exercise. “A total of 361,432 new voters have been added to the National Voters Register, and 292,021 applications for voter transfers have been processed. The current National Voters Register now stands at 19,925,574 registered voters, up from 18,103,603 in the 2020/2021 General Elections,” Byabakama confirmed.

Additionally, the Commission has continuously updated the register through by-elections and by integrating verified citizens’ data from NIRA.

During the extension period, the update exercise will continue to be conducted daily, including weekends, from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM at designated update centers.

The Commission also clarified that the extension is not only for new voter registration but also an opportunity for Ugandans who have not yet registered to do so. Registered voters who wish to change their voting locations can still apply, but they must provide proof of residence or origin in the new location. Voters can also verify their details at update centers or online via the EC website (https://ec.or.ug/register).

With the update exercise extended, the Commission will continue monitoring progress and issuing periodic updates. After this phase, the next key milestone will be the display of the National Voters Register, scheduled for April–May 2025, where registered voters will have the chance to cross-check their details before the final register is compiled.

“The Electoral Commission urges all eligible citizens who have not yet registered or wish to transfer their polling stations to take advantage of this extension and ensure they are eligible to vote in the upcoming elections,” Byabakama emphasised.