The Electoral Commission (EC) has reiterated its commitment to conducting a transparent electoral process as Uganda heads toward the 2026 general elections.
Speaking at the National Dialogue on Elections at Esella Hotel, Dr. Kayunga Sallie Simba, who represented the Chairperson of the EC, Justice Simon Byabakama, said the Commission had taken deliberate measures to ensure credibility and public trust in the electoral process.
“We thank the framers of the Ugandan constitution that much as we have challenges, Uganda is one of the countries where special interest groups are recognized,” he said.
Simba underscored the fact that Uganda has a higher percentage of women in political representation compared to some developed countries such as the United States of America.
He revealed that the Commission is deploying new technology that will make it difficult for a person to vote twice or stuff ballot boxes hence open and transparent counting would continue in the presence of candidates’ agents.
“Irrespective of the new technology, we shall continue with the transparent counting so that all the agents can follow up on the number of votes each candidate has got,” he said.
He also praised government for fully funding electoral activities without external support.
“Despite a few constraints, we thank the Ugandan government that it has been able to fund the process. Uganda is one of the few countries where the electoral activities are 100 percent financed by Ugandans,” he stated, adding that no foreign donors were funding the process.
Simba assured the country that the Commission was prepared to deliver credible, free and fair elections urging stakeholders to follow all the electoral guidelines.
“Democracy is a process and it grows and matures, there is no country that got up overnight and it was democratic. It has been a subject of historical processes of ups and downs. At each stage of growth there might be a lot of challenges, but despite these challenges the EC will do everything to do what is best according to the law,” he said.
The Electoral Commission spokesperson Julius Mucunguzi urged presidential candidates to conduct themselves according to the law, act peacefully and respect one another. He highlighted that campaigns should avoid hate speech that could sow division among candidates and citizens.
Mucunguzi noted that campaigns had begun without incidents of violence since the conclusion of nominations on 24th September, signalling optimism for a peaceful election. He also said public confidence in the electoral process was strong, citing over 200 presidential aspirants who had picked nomination forms.
“Uganda is capable of having free and fair elections if everyone plays by the rules and puts the country first, not their selfish interests,” Mucunguzi said, encouraging all candidates and stakeholders to ensure voters have confidence in the institutions and the integrity of the process.
The National Dialogue on Elections closed with a collective call for tolerance, transparency and respect for democratic principles as Uganda heads toward the 2026 general elections