With just nine days remaining until Uganda’s highly anticipated 2026 general elections, the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) has issued a formal demand to the Electoral Commission (EC) for an updated physical copy of the National Voters Register.

The letter, signed by NUP Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya and dated January 6, accuses the EC of failing to meet its legal obligations under the Electoral Commission Act, potentially undermining the transparency of the upcoming polls.

The demand references Section 19 of the Electoral Commission Act, Cap. 176, which mandates the EC to provide participating political parties with a paper copy of the voters’ register—including photographs—at least 14 days before polling day. Polling is scheduled for January 15, when Ugandans will elect a president and Members of Parliament.

The NUP’s letter highlights that the EC has “gazetted” January 15 as the presidential polling day but has not fulfilled this requirement, leaving parties with insufficient time to verify the register.

“In the premises, we write to demand that the Commission immediately provide NUP with a clean and updated paper copy of the Voters Register, and fully comply with all its other outstanding statutory obligations,” the letter states.

This is not the first time the NUP has flagged issues with the voters’ register. In a previous letter dated December 31, 2025, the party protested alleged duplications of tens of thousands of voters, citing data from Kampala Central alone showing over 1,527 voters appearing twice.

The NUP, led by presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi popularly known as Bobi Wine, is contesting at multiple levels, including the presidency, against President Yoweri Museveni of the National Resistance Movement (NRM).

The EC has not yet issued a specific response to today’s demand, but it has previously dismissed similar allegations of irregularities as “false and misleading.”

In a statement addressing claims by Kyagulanyi, the Commission clarified that cited voter entries belonged to different individuals and emphasized that the register is secure and verified through enhanced measures.

An EC update on the roadmap to the elections expressed appreciation for government funding and parliamentary support but did not directly address the physical register distribution.

The NUP’s concerns echo those raised by other opposition figures.

General Mugisha Muntu, presidential candidate for the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT), recently faulted the EC for delaying the updated register, arguing it hinders parties’ ability to “weed out” discrepancies.

Civil society groups and political actors have also questioned the EC’s transparency as the polls approach, with some highlighting past issues during the national voter registration exercise in 2025, including alleged flaws and misconduct.

Broader election anxieties include fears of internet disruptions, which the government has denied, reassuring citizens of uninterrupted access during voting.

The NUP has also voiced worries over the biometric verification system, adding to the scrutiny on electoral integrity.

As tensions rise, observers warn that unresolved issues like the voters’ register could erode public trust in the process, especially in a contest expected to be fiercely competitive.

The EC has until polling day to address these demands, but with time running short, the NUP’s letter warns of potential legal ramifications for non-compliance.