The Electoral Commission (EC) has clarified that biometric voter verification kits did not fail across the entire country during the ongoing electoral process, despite reports of technical challenges at some polling stations.
Speaking to the media, EC Chairperson Justice Simon Mugenyi Byabakama said that while there were isolated incidents where the biometric voter verification kits experienced glitches, the systems functioned properly in many parts of the country.
“Biometric kits did not fail entirely all over the country. There were areas where the kits worked as expected,” Justice Byabakama said.
“We are currently investigating to establish what could have caused the hiccups in the affected locations.”
He explained that the kits are intended to enhance the credibility of the electoral process by accurately verifying voters through fingerprints and facial recognition.
However, where technical challenges occurred, the Commission activated contingency measures in line with electoral guidelines to ensure voting continued without unnecessary delays.
Justice Byabakama emphasised that the EC had deployed technical teams nationwide to respond promptly to reported issues and support polling officials on the ground.
He reassured voters and stakeholders that no eligible voter would be disenfranchised due to technical difficulties.
The EC has also urged candidates, party agents, and supporters to remain calm and patient as investigations into the technical interruptions continue.
According to the Commission, lessons learned from the incidents will help strengthen future electoral processes.
Voting and tallying of results are continuing across the country, with the EC reiterating its commitment to conducting a transparent, credible, and inclusive election.
