By As Uganda prepares for the 2026 General Elections, the Electoral Commission (EC) is banking on technology to strengthen the credibility of the polls, with the Biometric Voter Verification Kit (BVVK) set to play a central role in the voting process nationwide.
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The handheld device, which was first introduced during the 2016 elections, is designed to curb electoral malpractices such as voter impersonation, multiple voting, and ballot stuffing. For the 2026 polls, the EC plans to deploy 109,142 upgraded BVVKs across the country, each equipped with enhanced security features.
According to the EC, every BVVK will be strictly assigned to a specific polling station. On election day, the device is activated by scanning a QR code from the Voters Register, after which it displays the polling station details, ensuring it cannot be used elsewhere.
Before voting begins, election officials themselves are subjected to verification. The Presiding Officer and the BVVK operator must authenticate their identities using National Identification Numbers (NINs), Voter Location Slips, fingerprints, or facial recognition. The EC says this step is meant to ensure that only authorised personnel manage the voting process.
Ballot papers are also tightly controlled. Each ballot booklet is scanned into the BVVK before polls open, enabling the device to recognise only officially issued ballots for that polling station and detect any unauthorised papers during post-voting checks.
In line with electoral law, voting cannot commence without public oversight. At least ten voters must witness the opening of the polls. These voters are verified using the BVVK and marked in the Voters Register, formally signalling the start of voting.
Throughout the day, every voter must undergo biometric verification using fingerprints or facial recognition before receiving a ballot. The EC has maintained that without successful verification on the BVVK, a voter is not allowed to cast a ballot, reinforcing the principle of “one person, one vote.”
Before a ballot paper is issued, it is scanned again at the Presiding Officer’s table. Polling assistants are on hand to guide voters through the process and ensure orderly conduct at polling stations.
Despite the extensive use of technology, the EC insists that voter secrecy remains intact. The Commission says the BVVK does not link a voter’s identity to their ballot choice, guaranteeing the confidentiality of the vote as required by law.
Polls close at 4:00 pm, after which all voters who were already in line are allowed to vote. The Presiding Officer then formally closes the polls on the BVVK, triggering post-voting verification procedures. All ballot papers are scanned again to confirm they were officially issued for that station. Any unverified ballot is set aside and recorded in the Official Report Book in the presence of election officials, party agents, observers, and members of the public.
To enhance transparency and accountability, Declaration of Results forms and Accountability of Ballot Papers forms are scanned and photographed using the BVVK, creating secure digital backups of key election records.
The election process at each polling station officially ends when the Presiding Officer closes the election round on the device.
The EC says the BVVK is a cornerstone of its efforts to deliver elections that are credible, transparent, and trusted. As Uganda heads toward the 2026 General Elections, voters are being encouraged to embrace the technology and participate fully in the democratic process, confident that every verified vote will count.
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