EC says Fanon voter locator app unauthorised

Salim Were

The Electoral Commission (EC) has strongly condemned an unauthorised website operated by an entity known as FANON, which is being promoted as a platform for accessing voter registration details ahead of the 2026 General Elections.

Addressing the media on Tuesday, December 31, 2025, EC Chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama said the website, www.registry.ugtally.com, is not affiliated with nor approved by the Electoral Commission and should not be used by the public.

“The website is not authorised and is not linked to the Electoral Commission in any way,” Justice Byabakama said, warning that it may contain misleading or inaccurate information and could expose users to risks related to misuse of personal data.

Fanon voter locator app is a computer-aided voter information tool aimed at simplifying the voting process at a time when civic education has been limited ahead of the polls.

The application is named after Frantz Omar Fanon, a French West Indian psychiatrist and political philosopher, from the French colony of Martinique. His works have become influential in the fields of post-colonial studies and critical theory.

“The system is easier and faster, only requiring your name. Usually, when you search for information on the electoral commission portal, you may find another person with your name. With Fanon, simply put in your name and give extra information to get a precise identification,” Salim Were, the co-founder of Fanon Application, told NTV Uganda.

The EC chairperson revealed that FANON is neither accredited as a voter education organisation nor mandated to host or manage systems that allow voters to check their registration details.

He emphasised that only the Electoral Commission has the constitutional mandate to compile, maintain and manage the National Voters’ Register.

Justice Byabakama cautioned Ugandans against visiting the website or submitting personal information, noting that the EC would not be responsible for how data shared on the platform is used.

He urged the public to verify their voter registration details and polling stations only through the official EC website, www.ec.or.ug/register.

The EC has since written to the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) seeking guidance on action to be taken against the unauthorised platform.

Justice Byabakama said the warning was issued in the public interest to prevent confusion, misinformation and possible abuse of voter data as the country heads into the final phase of preparations for the 2026 General Elections.

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