KAMPALA – As Uganda prepares for the January 2026 general elections, the Electoral Commission is moving to reassure voters that the use of Biometric Voter Verification Kits will not affect the secrecy of the ballot.
Public explanations ahead of the polls state that the BVVK is used solely to verify voter identity and support orderly ballot issuance. Officials said the data of verified voters and the data of scanned ballot papers are stored separately, in line with legal requirements for ballot secrecy.
The clarification comes amid public concerns that biometric verification could expose how individuals vote.
“In periods of political contestation, rumors spread where information is weak,” Dr Gerald Werikhe a governance analyst, noted. “Citizens need evidence-based civic education to understand that a verification tool can protect the process without becoming a surveillance tool.”
The Commission has urged the public to rely on official sources for information about the BVVK and to avoid speculation that could undermine confidence in the process.
Voters are also encouraged to share only verified information and to report suspicious claims to the EC for clarification.
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