The Electoral Commission (EC) plans to introduce biometric voter verification in the 2026 general elections, marking a major shift in how voters will be identified and results processed. A total of 60,000 biometric voter verification kits will be deployed nationwide to make voting faster, more accurate and more transparent.
Why biometric verification?
According to the EC, the technology is designed to reduce voter impersonation, speed up verification, improve accuracy of the register, and support quicker transmission of results. Deputy EC chairperson Aisha Lubega says the move is part of efforts to improve trust and modernise Uganda’s elections.
Where will the machines be used?
Each polling station will have at least two biometric kits. Every device comes with backup power, including a strong internal battery and two power banks, to avoid breakdowns on voting day.
How the process will work
EC director of technical services Solomon Muhumuza explains that the biometric system follows a simple sequence.
1️⃣ Presiding officer logs in. Before voting starts, the presiding officer activates the machine using their national ID or fingerprint. They also assign ballot boxes to the kit to ensure each ballot is correctly linked to that station.
2️⃣ Voter checks in. A voter arrives and presents either a national identity card or a voter location slip.
3️⃣ Biometric verification. The machine then verifies the voter using fingerprints or facial recognition. Almost instantly, the device will show whether the person is registered at that polling station and which election categories they qualify to vote in — presidential, parliamentary or local government. If a voter is not on the register for that station, they will be guided to the correct centre.
4️⃣ Voting takes place. After successful verification, the voter proceeds to cast their ballot in the usual way. Their finger will still be marked with indelible ink to prevent repeat voting — a procedure unchanged from past elections.
5️⃣ Results are recorded and sent. Once voting ends, agents for all candidates watch the counting and tallying process. Results are filled onto Declaration of Results (DR) forms, then scanned and transmitted to the EC through a secure private network.
Training already underway
All biometric kits are now in the country, and training is in progress. Operators undergo two days of classwork and three days of hands-on practice to ensure they are ready for polling day.
Lubega says adopting this technology is intended to boost confidence in the electoral process and assure the public that the 2026 elections will be more transparent, efficient and credible.
