The Electoral Commission (EC) has received 60,000 new biometric voter verification kits as part of the preparations for 2026 general elections.
The consignment arrived at Entebbe International Airport on Monday night aboard a privately chartered cargo plane and was received by EC Chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama Mugenyi alongside senior Commission officials.
Justice Byabakama described the delivery as a “significant achievement” in the Commission’s election roadmap, noting that the biometric devices will be deployed nationwide to verify and identify voters before they cast their ballots.
“This is the first consignment out of 109,142 kits ordered,” Byabakama said, adding that the remaining units are expected by the end of November. He commended the supplier, Simi Valley Company, for meeting its delivery schedule and helping to keep the Commission on track.
The upgraded devices, he explained, are faster, more reliable, and equipped with power banks to ensure uninterrupted operation even in areas with limited electricity or poor network coverage. Each polling station will have at least two kits to minimize delays during voter verification.
“The new systems are designed to function efficiently under difficult conditions,” Byabakama noted, emphasizing that the EC will carry out extensive training and voter education to ensure smooth operation on polling day.
He clarified that ballot printing is a separate process handled by different contractors, explaining that no printing has yet begun as the Commission is still verifying nomination returns.
Byabakama credited the government for providing financial and logistical support, saying it has been instrumental in ensuring timely election preparations. “With the arrival of this first batch, we are confident of delivering free, fair, and credible elections in 2026,” he said.
The kits were offloaded and immediately transported under Counter-Terrorism Police escort to an undisclosed EC storage facility.
Uganda’s previous elections in 2021 were marred by delays and technical issues with biometric machines. The EC says it has learned from those challenges and is determined to ensure greater transparency, efficiency, and credibility in the 2026 polls.
