All in one package: What you need to know about 2021 general elections before you’re closed out of the polling station

KAMPALA, Uganda: In December 2018 the Electoral Commission launched a Roadmap for 2020-2021 general elections and has since conducted several activities which included empowering stakeholders with relevant information to facilitate their participation in electoral activities and also enhancing outreaches and publicity campaigns.

Furthering the process, the Commission on Thursday this week also launched an exercise for the general update of the National Voters Register for 2019 which will run from 21^st November to 11^th December 2019 countrywide.

Announcing the commencement of the exercise at the Electoral Commission head office in Kampala , Justice Simon Byabakama, the Commission Chair, said the general update of the National Voters Register will be conducted at update stations for each parish throughout the country starting from 8:00 am to 6:00pm on each of the selected dates, weekends inclusive.

During the general Update exercise, the Electoral Commission will register eligible Ugandan citizens of 18 years and above, who are not yet registered as voters. “The update exercise will be a self-reporting exercise in which a person intending to register will turn up in person at the update center in order to provide his/her personal details, photograph, signatures and finger prints,” Justice Byabakama said.

He warned Ugandans who have already registered as voters anywhere in Uganda not to do so again. However, during the update exercise, registered voters who wish to transfer to new voting locations will be able to apply for such transfers and they must present confirmation that they originate from or are, at the time of application for transfer. Such applicants should ensure they have details of their previous voting location. According to the Electoral Commission guidelines, any person who wishes to apply for transfer is free to go to any registration center.

Confirmation of Registration Particulars

The update exercise will enable registered voters to confirm accuracy of their particulars on the register at the voting locations which they indicated during registration. During the exercise, voters will not be able to make changes to their age / date of birth, or include new additional names.

Update on Implementation of the Roadmap for 2020/21 General Elections:

Among the activities which were conducted during the implementation of the roadmap for 2020/21 general elections included recruitment of temporary staff at the sub-counties and parish levels during the period of July- August 2019 to supervise electoral activities countrywide and also the verification of voter registers.

Justice Byabakama wants all stakeholders in the electoral process to support the general update exercise and other roadmap activities through enthusiastic participation and in accordance with the guidelines which will be issued for each activity.