The Electoral Commission is conducting the exercise of the General Update of the National Voters Register. This is done in compliance with Article 61(1)(e) of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda and Section 20 of the Electoral Commission Act (Cap 176).
The purpose of this general update exercise is to enable eligible Ugandan citizens of 18 years and above, who are not yet registered as voters, to do so. The person intending to register as a voter is required to turn up in person at an update center in his/her parish of residence or origin, to provide his/her details, have their photograph taken, and have their signature and fingerprints captured.
The exercise is also meant to enable registered voters who wish to transfer to new voting locations to apply for such transfer. A voter who wishes to transfer to a new voting location must present confirmation that he/she originates from or is, at the time of the transfer application, a resident of the parish of that (new) voting location. Such applicants are required to present details of their previous voting location. A person who wishes to apply for a transfer of his or her voting location is free to present himself/herself at any of the update centers.
During this exercise, registered voters are able to check and confirm that their particulars are correct and that they appear on the Voters Register at the voting locations that they indicated during registration. The exercise will further enable registered voters to confirm the accuracy of their particulars on the Voters Register and correct any error(s) that may be identified in their details on the Register.
To facilitate this confirmation, the Commission has availed the Register of each polling station at each update station within the respective Parish/Ward. At the same time, registered voters can also verify their voting details from the Electoral Commission website: https://ec.or.ug/register.
But why should every Ugandan who is above 18 years register to vote?
The Commission spokesperson, Julius Mucunguzi, explains that to take part in any electoral activity, such as standing as a candidate, being an agent, or raising any election petition, one must be a registered voter with his/her name appearing in the National Voters’ Register.
“To be able to be a voter, to be able to be a candidate, to be able to be an agent of a candidate, or to be able to raise a petition if there is an election matter, you must first and foremost be a registered voter, and you must be on the National Voters Register,” Mucunguzi explains.
“So, it is critical and significant that for any citizen of Uganda who is eligible to be able to exercise their rights under Article 59 of the constitution, which grants the right to vote, you must be on the National Voters Register,” he adds.
A person who is already registered as a voter anywhere in Uganda does not need to register again. Already registered voters can only go to update centers within their respective parish/ward to check and confirm that their particulars are correct and appear on the Voters Register at the voting locations that they indicated during registration.
During the exercise, students who were registered by the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) and have since attained the age of 18 years will be able to present their particulars, that is, the National Identification Number (NIN), for updating and assignment of a polling station within their parish of residence or origin.
The update of the National Voters Register will enable the following to happen: those citizens who are eligible and have never registered as voters will have an opportunity to register as voters.
Those who are already registered voters but want to check their particulars and the correctness of their particulars (names, photographs, and any other particulars) will have the opportunity to come, check their particulars, and ensure that they are correct.
There are those who are on the voters register, but they want to transfer from one polling location to another; they will have an opportunity to do so.
Students who were registered by NIRA under the student project and have now turned 18 years will have an opportunity to come up, register as voters, and be allocated polling stations.
The update of the National Voters Register will close on 10th February 2025.
Anybody who will not have registered as a voter by February 10 will not be able to participate in general elections.
