The Electoral Commission (EC) has introduced new Biometric Voter Verification Kits (BBVKs) ahead of Uganda’s 2026 general elections, aiming to improve transparency and reduce cases of election malpractice.
According to EC Chairperson Simon Byabakama, the new machines will verify each voter before they receive a ballot paper. The devices will use both fingerprints and facial recognition to confirm the identity of voters, ensuring that only those properly verified can cast their vote.
“The new machines will help detect ballots that have not gone through the correct verification process, and such votes will not be counted,” Byabakama explained. He emphasized that this new technology is meant to protect the integrity of the elections and strengthen public confidence in the voting process.
The decision to introduce improved biometric kits follows challenges faced during the 2021 elections, when some of the previous machines malfunctioned or caused delays. These issues led to manual voter verification in certain areas, which raised concerns about transparency and fairness.
Byabakama said the Electoral Commission is determined to rebuild trust among Ugandans by using more reliable systems and ensuring every vote counts.
“These measures are not just about technology; they are about making sure every ballot counted represents a real, verified voter,” he said.
He also called on all political parties, civil society groups, and citizens to support efforts to maintain election integrity, noting that it is a shared responsibility.
Byabakama further revealed that the biometric kits will not only verify voters but also play a role during vote counting identifying ballots that did not follow proper procedures and ensuring they are not included in the final tally.
The EC says this is part of a broader plan to prevent impersonation, ballot-stuffing, and other electoral malpractices.
Uganda moves closer to the January 15, 2026 elections, the Commission believes that the combination of new biometric technology and active stakeholder participation will make the upcoming polls more transparent, efficient, and credible than in previous years.
