Opposition political parties have put the Electoral Commission (EC) under renewed pressure over delays in releasing an updated paper copy of the National Voters Register, warning that the setback could undermine transparency and preparedness ahead of the January 15, 2026 presidential election.
The concerns are detailed in a letter dated January 6, 2026, addressed to the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission and authored by the National Unity Platform (NUP).
The letter, signed by NUP Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya, was officially received by the Commission on the same day.
In the correspondence, NUP cites Section 19 of the Electoral Commission Act, Cap. 176, which obliges the Commission to transmit to political parties participating in an election an updated paper voters register — complete with voters’ photographs — at least 14 days before polling day.
With fewer than nine days remaining to the presidential election, the party notes that the Commission has neither released the register nor provided a lawful explanation for the delay.
The letter further references earlier communication to the Commission dated December 11 and December 31, 2025, in which concerns were raised over alleged duplication of tens of thousands of voters in the National Voters Register.
It also recalls a December 28 statement by the Electoral Commission in which the body assured stakeholders that it would comply with the legally prescribed timelines for releasing the updated register.
According to NUP, those assurances have not been honored.
Other political actors say repeated engagements with the Electoral Commission have yielded little progress.
Nelson Agaba, an official agent of Gen. Mugisha Muntu of the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT), accused the Commission of deliberately employing delaying tactics that prevent political parties from conducting thorough scrutiny of the voters register ahead of polling day.
“These are delaying tactics so that we do not do the thorough register investigations needed ahead of the voting day,” Agaba said.
He added that during his visits to the Electoral Commission offices, officials informed him that the release of the register was pending internal approval.
“I have visited the office of EC and they told me that the approving letter is not yet signed by the authority, so they are waiting for the signature before registers are released,” he said.
Agaba further expressed frustration over what he described as a recurring pattern of unfulfilled promises by the Commission.
“Every time we come here, we are told we’ll receive the registers tomorrow. Gen. Muntu was here on the 2nd; he was told tomorrow. I am also being told tomorrow. What is this tomorrow that can’t reach?” he asked.
Political parties argue that access to an updated voters register is a critical safeguard for electoral integrity, enabling candidates and parties to verify voter details, detect anomalies, and raise timely objections before polling day.
In its January 6 letter, NUP demands that the Electoral Commission immediately provide a clean and updated paper copy of the voters register and fully comply with its outstanding statutory obligations.
With polling day fast approaching, the delay has heightened anxiety among opposition parties over electoral preparedness, compliance with the law, and the overall credibility of the electoral process under EC Chairperson Simon Byabakama.
