The Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Norbert Mao, has unveiled an ambitious plan to introduce compulsory electronic voting for the 2026 General Elections in Uganda. The proposal is aimed at addressing concerns related to vote rigging and irregularities while ensuring transparency and fairness in the electoral process.
During a media briefing in Kampala, Minister Mao announced his radical proposal, which has garnered the full support of President Museveni. As the President General of the Democratic Party, Mao urged the Ugandan public to rally behind this initiative, emphasizing the necessity of combating issues like vote stuffing.
Mao stated, "I took proposals to the Cabinet to make electronic voting compulsory. It is a very radical idea in a democratic country. Fortunately, it has the full support of the President of Uganda."
Under the proposed electronic voting system, voters would utilize various biometric methods, including fingerprints, eyelid scans, and facial recognition technology. The primary goal is to bolster the security and accuracy of the voting process, preventing unauthorized use of voter locator slips.
In August of this year, the Electoral Commission (EC) launched the roadmap for the 2026 general elections, along with a strategic plan covering the years 2022/2023-2026/2027. Chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama Mugenyi outlined the plans, which aim to improve operational efficiency, stakeholder awareness, and participation, while also enhancing organizational and staff capacity planning.
Paul Bukenya, spokesperson for the Electoral Commission, emphasized the commission's dedication to embracing technology. He highlighted the role of technology in various electoral processes, including mapping out polling areas, voter registration, preparation of registers, printing, ballot paper preparation, result counting and transmission, and voter identification on polling day.
Bukenya also underscored the increased use of digital and online communications and social media to enhance transparency and efficiency in the electoral process.
The Ugandan government's determination to embrace technology and overcome challenges associated with traditional voting systems reflects a commitment to a more effective and accurate election method in Uganda. The proposal for compulsory electronic voting is poised to bring significant changes to the electoral landscape ahead of the 2026 General Election.
