The Electoral Commission (EC) has issued a detailed rebuttal to allegations of voter register manipulation raised by National Unity Platform (NUP) leader and presidential candidate, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu (Bobi Wine).
In a statement released on December 28, 2025, EC Chairperson Justice Byabakama Mugenyi Simon clarified that the “duplicate” voter records shared by Kyagulanyi on social media were actually two distinct individuals with identical names and birth dates.
The Case of “Matovu Ronald”
The controversy centred on images of two Voter Location Slips (VLS) for a “Matovu Ronald,” both listing a birth date of February 12, 1982, but registered at different polling stations in Kampala. Kyagulanyi had cited this as evidence of a “ghost” or “multiple” registration scheme intended to rig the January 15, 2026, election.
“There are more than 1,500 people whose details appear twice in the Electoral Commission register in some constituencies. Then, there are those listed more than once in different constituencies — can you imagine?” Opposition NUP party Secretary General David Rubongoya said on Monday, decrying alleged irregularities and inconsistencies in the national voters’ register ahead of the January 15, 2026, General Election.
Rubongoya says analysis of Electoral Commission data for Kampala Central alone shows more than 1,527 voters appearing twice in the register, raising fears over the credibility of the polls.
However, Justice Byabakama explained that while the names and dates of birth were identical, the individuals are separate persons with unique biometric data.
“The Commission has verified that these are two different voters who happened to share names and a date of birth. They are clearly distinguishable by their photographs, which the Commission holds but cannot publish due to data privacy laws,” the statement read.
Biometric Safeguards and Transparency
To prevent the very scenario Kyagulanyi feared—multiple voting—the EC emphasised its reliance on the Biometric Voter Verification System (BVVS).
Facial & Fingerprint Matching: The BVVS requires a live biometric match before a voter is cleared, making it impossible for one person to vote using two different slips.
Voter Location Slips (VLS): The EC noted that the slips (being issued from Dec 15 to Jan 13) are merely to help voters find their stations and do not replace the final biometric check on polling day.
“No Secret Register”
Justice Byabakama also dismissed claims that the final National Voters Register is being kept secret. He noted that soft copies of the full register were provided to all nominated presidential candidates in September 2025, as required by law.
The Commission urged political leaders to “desist from spreading alarmist information” and instead use the official channels to raise genuine discrepancies found during the ongoing verification period.
