The Independent Electoral Commission (EC) has received the first batch of 60,000 biometric voter verification kits as preparations for the 2026 general elections intensify.
The consignment was delivered at Entebbe International Airport at 11:45 p.m., last night aboard a privately chartered cargo plane. It was received by EC Chairperson, Justice Simon Byabakama, together with senior Commission officials.
Justice Byabakama described the delivery as a major milestone in the ongoing preparations for the presidential, parliamentary, and local government elections scheduled for January 15, 2026. He added that the biometric devices will be deployed at polling stations across the country to verify and identify eligible voters before they receive ballot papers.
“This is the first consignment out of a total of 109,142 kits ordered,” Justice Byabakama said, adding that the remaining units are expected by the end of November. He commended the contractor, Simi Valley Company, for delivering on schedule, noting that timely delivery keeps the Commission on track with its election roadmap.
Byabakama revealed that the new generation of biometric kits comes with improved features compared to those used in the 2016 and 2021 polls. Each polling station will have at least two kits to ensure smooth voter verification. The upgraded systems, equipped with power banks for data backup, can also detect invalid or suspicious ballots, helping ensure that only legitimate votes are counted.
He said the Commission has addressed previous challenges associated with the devices, particularly in areas with limited electricity and poor network coverage.
“The new devices are designed to function efficiently even under difficult conditions,” he explained, adding that the EC will conduct extensive training and voter education to ensure both polling officials and the public understand how the kits work.
Addressing concerns from the media, Justice Byabakama clarified that the printing of ballot papers is a separate process handled by different contractors to enhance transparency and security.
He explained that ballot papers are yet to be printed since the nomination exercise has just concluded and the Commission is still verifying and analyzing nomination returns before proceeding to the printing stage.
Justice Byabakama expressed confidence that with the arrival of the first batch and the anticipated delivery of the remainder, the Commission is well-positioned to conduct free, fair, and credible elections in 2026. He credited the Government of Uganda for its financial and logistical support in procuring the biometric systems, noting that such preparations are crucial for maintaining peace and stability during and after the elections.
He declined to reveal the country of manufacture, saying only that the kits were produced “from within the world.”
Shortly after offloading, the kits were loaded onto EC trucks that had been stationed at the airport since 11 p.m. Monday. The convoy, escorted by Counter-Terrorism Police officers, transported the equipment to an undisclosed storage facility.
In the 2021 general elections, the country faced delays in delivering election materials, limited voter education on the use of biometric kits, and complaints about slow machines. This year, the Commission says it has learned from those experiences and is determined to ensure greater efficiency, transparency, and credibility in the 2026 polls.
