The Electoral Commission (EC) has taken delivery of the first 60,000 biometric voter verification kits in preparation for the 2026 general elections, marking a key milestone in the country’s election readiness.
The shipment arrived at Entebbe International Airport late Monday night at 11:45 p.m., transported by a privately chartered cargo plane. EC Chairperson, Justice Simon Byabakama, received the consignment alongside senior Commission officials.
Justice Byabakama hailed the arrival of the kits as a critical step toward ensuring efficient and transparent voting in the upcoming presidential, parliamentary, and local government elections scheduled for January 15, 2026. The devices will be deployed across polling stations to verify voter identities before ballot issuance.
“This is the first delivery out of 109,142 kits we have ordered,” Justice Byabakama said, noting that the remaining units are expected by the end of November. He praised the contractor, Simi Valley Company, for adhering to the delivery schedule, saying timely arrival is essential to staying on track with the Commission’s election roadmap.
The new biometric kits are an upgraded generation compared to those used in previous elections in 2016 and 2021. Each polling station will receive at least two kits to facilitate smooth voter verification. Equipped with power banks for uninterrupted operation and enhanced detection of invalid or suspicious ballots, the devices are designed to ensure only legitimate votes are counted.
Justice Byabakama explained that the Commission has addressed previous challenges, particularly in areas with limited electricity and weak network coverage. “The devices are built to perform efficiently under difficult conditions,” he said, adding that extensive training for polling officials and voter education campaigns will accompany the rollout.
Regarding ballot papers, Justice Byabakama clarified that their printing is handled separately by other contractors. With the nomination exercise recently concluded, the Commission is still verifying returns before proceeding to print the ballots, ensuring transparency and accuracy.
Following offloading, the kits were loaded onto EC trucks and transported under police escort to a secure, undisclosed storage facility. The Counter-Terrorism Police monitored the convoy to maintain security during transit.
Reflecting on lessons from the 2021 elections, when material delays, limited voter education, and slow machines caused challenges, the EC emphasized that preparations for 2026 aim to improve efficiency, transparency, and credibility. Justice Byabakama expressed confidence that the Commission is now well-positioned to deliver free and fair elections, with support from the Government of Uganda.
While the country of manufacture was not disclosed, Justice Byabakama confirmed the kits were sourced internationally.
The arrival of these first biometric kits signals a major step forward in Uganda’s preparations for the 2026 elections, ensuring that voters are accurately verified and electoral processes run smoothly across the nation.
