RUKIGA, UGANDA – Thousands of voters in Rukiga District risk being unable to cast a ballot after reports emerged that the Electoral Commission’s system is failing to recognize individuals with valid National IDs, creating a potential disenfranchisement crisis.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The alarm was raised on Friday by the aspiring Rukiga District LC V Chairperson, Hon. Michael Kwarikunda Mbareba, shortly after his official nomination to contest the position as an independent candidate.
During his nomination process, Mbareba revealed that a significant number of his seconders and nominators were rejected because the EC’s online verification portal failed to locate their details, despite all of them possessing valid National IDs.
“We have citizens with genuine National Identity Cards, yet the system does not recognize them as voters. My plea is for everyone to immediately check their voter status with the Electoral Commission to avoid being denied their right to vote in the forthcoming elections,” Mbareba stated.
The Rukiga District Returning Officer, Ms. Rebecca Mbabazi, acknowledged that several aspirants have faced similar delays and challenges due to difficulties in verifying National IDs against the voter register.
Mbabazi clarified that the issue likely affects individuals who did not participate in the recently concluded nationwide display of the voters’ register.
She explained that possessing a National ID does not automatically guarantee inclusion on the final voter list; citizens must actively verify and confirm their details during the designated display period.
“We held the Display of the National Voters Register, and it’s surprising that a number of people whom candidates requested signatures from were found to be missing from the system. These people have National IDs but never went to verify their details and confirm their eligibility to vote during the display,” stated Mbabazi.
The display exercise, a legal requirement under Section 26 of the Electoral Commission Act, was conducted from April 25 to May 15, 2025, to allow citizens to inspect the provisional register and correct discrepancies ahead of the 2026 polls.
The incident has sparked fears of widespread disenfranchisement, particularly in rural areas where awareness of such verification exercises may be lower.
With the 2026 polls on the horizon, both electoral officials and political candidates are urging the public to proactively engage with the EC to ensure their voting rights are secured.
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