Electoral Commission Issues Stern Warning Against Unauthorized Polling Agents, Reaffirms Election Timeline

KAMPALA, Uganda – The Electoral Commission has issued a firm warning to candidates against deploying unauthorised personnel to polling stations under the guise of “protecting the vote,” stating that such actions will attract punitive measures.

While addressing a press conference at the commission’s headquarters to update the country on the progress of the campaign period, the Commission Chairperson, Justice Simon Byabakama, emphasised that the law stipulates a specific number of agents per candidate. “Each candidate is allocated a maximum of two agents at a polling station,” Byabakama stated. “Any person intending to defy this guideline will face punitive action.”

Justice Byabakama illustrated the potential for chaos if this rule is flouted, citing polling centres such as Makindye, which has over 22 candidates. He argued that allowing each candidate to bring an unlimited number of personal agents would lead to overcrowding and could facilitate the manipulation of the electoral exercise rather than safeguard it.

Commission Confirms Voter Statistics and Election Dates

In the same briefing, the commission released the final register of voters for the forthcoming elections, confirming a total of 21,681,491 registered voters. A gender breakdown shows that women constitute the majority with 11,347,129 voters (53%), while men account for 10,334,362 (47%).

The commission also reaffirmed the election schedule, maintaining the following key dates:
   14th January 2026: Presidential and Parliamentary Elections
   19th January 2026: Elections for Representatives of Persons with Disabilities
   21st January 2026: Elections for Workers’ Representatives

To streamline the voting process, the commission will issue voter slips detailing the voting procedure to all registered voters.

Candidates Flouting Campaign Guidelines Rebuked

The commission boss also expressed strong disapproval of candidates who continue to violate campaign guidelines. He specifically condemned the use of defamatory and inflammatory language that incites violence, the act of tearing down opponents’ posters, and the impromptu stopping on roadsides for unscheduled rallies.

Justice Byabakama’s statements underscore the commission's determination to enforce electoral rules and ensure the integrity of the process, even as the political temperature rises across the country.