Civil Society Group Cites Irregularities in Election System Ahead of Uganda’s Polls

VOCAL Africa has alleged that Uganda's voter register contains names of deceased persons while excluding legitimate voters, raising fresh concerns as thecountry heads to the polls on January 15, 2026.

The group argued that the Electoral Commission of Uganda is incapable of delivering a credible poll, alleging that the voter register is riddled with duplicate entries and has inexplicably excluded large numbers of young people and opposition supporters.

"The register is riddled with discrepancies, including deceased persons and the disappearance of legitimate voters, particularly youth and opposition supporters," the coalition stated.

The group accused the Electoral Commission (EC) of issuing illegal orders forcing citizens to leave polling stations after voting, despite laws allowing them to remain.

Over 20 National Unity Platform (NUP) candidates have been disqualified months into their campaigns, while 20 NRM candidates secured unopposed victories through what the group calls fraudulent denominations.

The commission also delayed sharing the final voter register until the last minute, making audits nearly impossible.

Polling centres located within military and police barracks are reported to be in operation, even as independent observers face restricted access to these facilities.

VOCAL Africa revealed that the biometric voter verification technology was procured without proper legislation, raising further concerns about the electoral process.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni previously alleged that shortcomings by the electoral commission during the 2021 polls cost him as many as 2.7 million votes.

The group further denouncedthe internet shutdown ordered by the Uganda CommunicationsCommission, saying the move has blocked access to social media, messaging platforms, and personal emails nationwide and was intended to conceal planned atrocities from the public, police, and the army.