Elections were Free and Fair – UHRC

Kampala– The Uganda Human Rights Commission has released a report about the recently concluded 2026 Presidential Elections that took place in Uganda.

Commissioner Shifra Lukwago with UHRC Chairperson Lady Justice Mariam Wangadya. (File photo)
According to the Preliminary statement which has been issued by Lady Justice Mariam Wangadya, UHRC Chairperson alongside other Commission members at their offices in Kampala, she stated that the Electoral Commission supported Ugandans very well in exercising their constitutional right of voting.
“The Uganda Human Rights Commission congratulates the Electoral Commission and all candidates and the people of Uganda for successful conclusion of the exercise.”
Wangadya told the press, that the commission deployed 121 election observers (members of the commission and staff) to 990 polling stations across 78 of the 146 districts of Uganda.
“While voter turnout during the scientific election stood at 59.35%, turnout in the 2026 general elections declined to 52.50% reflecting 6.85% decline. Higher turnout was observed in rural areas compared to urban centers with low turn up registered in Kampala and Wakiso Districts.”
Wangadya also noted that although in October 2025, the Electoral Commission unveiled Biometric Voter Verification Kits (BVVKs) to enhance voter transparency and Electoral integrity on the voting day these machines registered some technical challenges which resulted into the use of manual National voters Registers in places where BVVKs had failed.
The commission revealed that although voting time was extended from 4.00 pm to 5.00pm due to several challenges that had been experienced, some of the Presiding officers didn’t receive the guidelines in time , but granted an opportunity to all voters who were present a chance to vote.
“Limited Internet accessibility, the partial shutdown impacted 17 million internet subscribers (UCC 2024) in Uganda, limiting the right to access to information and freedom of expression.”
The Commission also noted that the Electoral Commission reported that the valid votes were 11,090,848, and the valid votes were 275,353. UHRC noted that some votes were invalidated due to incorrect marking or no marking at all. “UHRC notes that the number was f invalid votes remains high with a similarly high number of invalid votes (3393,500 representing 3.66% ) recorded in the 2021 General election.”
For the above reasons, the commission recommended that to avoid similar occurrences in future, The Electoral Commission will have to conduct a mandatory percentage of election financing to voter education and the Electoral Commission has been also advised to conduct comprehensive training and large scale training of all electoral technologies prior to polling.
Wangadya commended the Police Constables deployed during elections for supporting voters especially through directing them to their various polling centers which was very commendable.
“People had much trust in these men and ladies in uniform to the extent that they looked out for them at the polling centers for assistance even though there were several civilians. People could come with their national identity cards and ask them the polling stations for their alphabets.”
Wangadya also cited some cases of violence in the Presidential election especially in Butambala, Lwemuyaga, Bukedea, Mukono, Butambala, Luweero and Wakiso.