KAMPALA, Uganda — Uganda’s Biometric Voter Verification (BVV) system has emerged as a flashpoint in the country’s highly contested 15 January 2026 general election, with critics warning that technological and infrastructural hurdles may hinder participation, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
The presidential candidate of the Common Man’s Party (CMP), Mubarak Munyagwa, has raised concerns over the new verification system, arguing that it risks disenfranchising eligible voters in regions with unreliable electricity and intermittent internet connectivity. His comments come as polls opened nationwide amid reports of technical breakdowns and delays.
Munyagwa’s remarks follow the arrival of 60,000 biometric voter verification machines in October 2025, a milestone in the Electoral Commission’s (EC) preparations for this year’s elections. The new devices are part of broader efforts to modernise the voting process, enhance accuracy in voter identification, and reduce multiple voting.
Speaking to reporters, Munyagwa warned that technical and infrastructural limitations could prevent citizens in rural or underserved districts from casting their ballots.
The EC has defended the system. Chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama has said the machines are designed to verify voters through fingerprint and facial recognition, including for those whose fingerprints may be unreadable due to wear or injury.
Justice Byabakama also emphasised that the technology is part of a broader effort to ensure a secure, free and transparent electoral process.
Despite these assurances, voting got off to a slow start in many parts of the country, with numerous polling stations reporting late openings and malfunctioning biometric devices on election morning.
Delays have been reported in both urban centres and rural locations, complicating voters’ ability to cast their ballots and fuelling concerns about the credibility of the process.
The situation has been exacerbated by a nationwide internet shutdown, ordered by authorities ahead of the vote. The blackout, which officials say is intended to curb misinformation, has drawn strong criticism from opposition figures and civil society groups, who argue it undermines transparency and civic engagement.
In response to technical challenges, the EC issued guidance instructing polling officials that voting should proceed using the National Voters Register where biometric kits fail to function, to avoid disenfranchisement and ensure that all registered voters can participate.
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Election analysts say that while biometric systems can enhance efficiency and reduce fraud, significant support structures, including reliable power, robust connectivity, and trained personnel, are essential, especially in rural districts where such infrastructure is limited.
The Kenyan Observer, human rights groups and international monitors have noted that technical failures and logistical gaps on polling day could influence public confidence in the electoral process, particularly as the country navigates deep political divisions and heightened tension between incumbent President Yoweri Museveni and key challengers.
With millions of Ugandans registered to vote and results expected within 48 hours of polls closing, attention now turns to how the EC manages these challenges and whether the biometric system will ultimately strengthen or strain trust in the electoral outcomes.
