By Jumah Kakomo
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has announced a seven-day extension for the update of the National Voters Register, now set to conclude on Monday, February 17, 2025. The original deadline was Monday, February 10, 2025, but following successful engagement with stakeholders and feedback from the field, the IEC decided to give Ugandans more time to register ahead of the 2026 general elections.
The update exercise, which began on January 20, 2025, aims to register new voters, accommodate requests for voter transfers, and verify voter details. IEC Chairman Justice Simon Byabakama Mugenyi stated that the exercise has received enthusiastic support from the public, political leaders, civil society, and other stakeholders, though challenges such as outdated registration kits and high turnout have hindered the pace.
Despite these obstacles, the IEC has made significant progress, with 361,432 new voters registered and 292,021 transfer applications processed by February 10, 2025. The total number of voters on the register now stands at 19,925,574, up from 18,103,603 registered for the 2020/2021 general elections.
The IEC urges all eligible voters who missed the initial registration period to take advantage of the extension and apply for voter registration or transfers before the new deadline. The Commission has promised to provide regular updates as key milestones for the 2025/2026 general elections approach.
Justice Byabakama emphasized the importance of this extension, stating, “This is a critical opportunity for all eligible persons who have not yet registered or updated their details to do so and participate in the upcoming elections.”
