Why Displaying the National Voters Register is Important, Here Is All You Need To Know

The Electoral Commission of Uganda has begun displaying the National Voters Register as the country prepares for the 2025–2026 General Elections. This exercise follows the rules stated in Section 26 of the Electoral Commission Act (Cap 176).

It is an important step to ensure that all eligible voters are correctly registered and ready to vote. The display will take place at every polling station across Uganda. It starts at 8:00 a.m. and ends at 6:00 p.m. every day, including weekends.

The main purpose of this display is to allow voters to check if their details are correct. Voters are encouraged to verify their names, personal information, and photographs to ensure everything is accurate.

This is also the time when voters can raise concerns or objections. If someone sees wrong information or notices their name is missing, they can report it. The public can also report people who are wrongly included in the register.

These include individuals who have passed away, those under 18 years of age, people who live in or come from a different parish than the one they are registered in, and anyone who appears more than once on the register.

In case a voter applied for registration but their name is not on the register, they can use this period to explain their situation and ask to be added. This ensures that no eligible voter is left out.

After the main display, the Electoral Commission will display a list of people recommended for removal from the register. This second display will run from May 16th to May 26th, 2025. The lists will be posted at every Parish or Ward Headquarters.

This follow-up display gives the public another chance to check the list and raise concerns. If someone believes their name was wrongly recommended for removal, they can report it to the Parish or Ward Tribunal. The tribunal will look into each complaint and make the final decision about who should be included, removed, or corrected on the register.

The public should understand how important this entire process is. If a voter does not appear on the final register, they may not be allowed to vote on election day. During this display period, new applications for voter registration or transfers to other polling stations will not be accepted.

Each polling station has a Display Officer available during the entire period to help voters, especially those affected by changes in polling stations. The Electoral Commission is running this process fairly and openly. Members of the public, including political party agents, are welcome to observe the process and make sure it is transparent.

For further information, the public is encouraged to visit the Electoral Commission’s website at http://www.ec.or.ug.