The Electoral Commission (EC) has received the first shipment of 60,000 biometric voter verification kits, marking a major step forward in preparations for Uganda’s 2026 general elections.
The consignment arrived at Entebbe International Airport at 11:45 p.m. on Monday aboard a privately chartered cargo plane and was received by EC Chairperson, Justice Simon Byabakama, alongside senior Commission officials.
Justice Byabakama hailed the delivery as a significant milestone in the Commission’s roadmap towards the presidential, parliamentary, and local government elections set for 15 January 2026. He explained that the kits will be deployed to polling stations nationwide to verify and identify eligible voters before they receive ballot papers.
“This is the first batch out of 109,142 kits ordered,” Byabakama said, noting that the remaining units are expected to arrive by the end of November. He praised Simi Valley Company, the contractor, for adhering to the delivery schedule, saying the timely arrival keeps the EC on track with its election preparations.
According to Byabakama, the new generation biometric kits feature enhanced technology compared to those used in the 2016 and 2021 elections. Each polling station will be equipped with at least two kits to ensure seamless voter verification. The upgraded devices come with built-in power banks for data backup and can detect invalid or suspicious entries, thereby strengthening the integrity of the electoral process.
He added that the Commission has addressed previous challenges experienced in areas with limited electricity and poor network coverage. “The new devices are designed to perform efficiently even in difficult conditions,” he said, adding that the EC will conduct comprehensive training and voter education to familiarise polling officials and the public with the new technology.
Responding to questions from journalists, Justice Byabakama clarified that ballot paper printing is managed separately by other contractors to promote transparency and safeguard the process. He noted that ballot printing will commence after the Commission completes the verification of nomination returns from the recently concluded nomination exercise.
Byabakama expressed confidence that the arrival of the first consignment and the anticipated completion of the deliveries will enable the EC to conduct free, fair, and credible elections. He also commended the Government of Uganda for providing financial and logistical support to ensure smooth preparations.
“These investments are critical to ensuring peace, stability, and credibility in the electoral process,” he said.
While he declined to disclose the country of manufacture, Byabakama described the kits as being produced “from within the world.”
The equipment was loaded onto EC trucks that had been stationed at the airport since 11 p.m. The convoy, escorted by Counter-Terrorism Police, transported the kits to a secure storage facility for safekeeping.
