The Electoral Commission (EC) has rejected allegations by the National Unity Platform (NUP) leader Robert Kyagulanyi, aka Bobi Wine, that the national voters register contains irregularities designed to enable multiple voting.
In a statement dated 28 December 28 and signed by the commission’s chairperson, Justice Simon Byabakama, the electoral body said claims circulated by Kyagulanyi on the social media platform X were “false and misleading”.
On a post on X, Kyagulanyi had cited two voter location slips bearing the same name, Matovu Ronald, and similar dates of birth, arguing that the commission had deliberately registered the same individual in different polling stations.
The commission said it had reviewed the documents in question and established that they belonged to two different people registered in separate electoral areas. According to the commission, the two voters are clearly distinguishable by their photographs, despite sharing similar names and dates of birth.
“While the individuals share similar names and dates of birth, this does not in any way mean they are the same person,” Byabakama said, adding that suggestions to the contrary were inaccurate.
The commission said it would not publish photographs or personal details of the affected voters, citing data protection and privacy laws. It also warned against sharing personal voter information on social media without consent, saying this would amount to a breach of privacy.
Addressing broader concerns about multiple voting, the commission said the biometric voter verification system had been strengthened to ensure that voters are verified using fingerprints or facial recognition before a ballot is issued.
“Without successful biometric verification, one will not be issued a ballot paper,” it said.
Kyagulanyi had also alleged that the commission had refused to provide presidential candidates with the final national voters register. The commission dismissed this claim as “entirely incorrect and misleading”.
It said that, in line with section 19 of the Electoral Commission Act, it issued a soft copy of the voters register to all presidential candidates immediately after nomination, which took place in September. The law, it added, requires the commission to provide hard copies for use on polling day two weeks before voting.
“The commission is finalising production of these copies and will issue them within the legally prescribed timeframe,” the statement said.
The commission urged Kyagulanyi and other stakeholders to use established channels to seek clarification, verify information, and raise concerns about the electoral process.
