By KT Reporter
The Electoral Commission (EC) Chairperson, Justice Simon Byabakama Mugenyi, has cautioned presidential candidates contesting in the 2026 General Elections against mobilising supporters to remain at polling stations under the guise of “protecting” or “demanding” votes.
In a statement dated December 18, 2025, addressed to all presidential candidates, Justice Byabakama said the Commission is concerned about campaign messages encouraging voters to stay at polling stations after voting, often framed under slogans such as “Kanoonye, Kalonde, Kakuume, Kabanje.”
Justice Byabakama clarified that Uganda’s electoral laws clearly spell out who is legally mandated to safeguard a candidate’s interests during voting and counting. He cited Section 35(1) of the Presidential Elections Act, which provides that a candidate may be present at a polling station either personally or through duly appointed representatives or polling agents.
“The responsibility of protecting a candidate’s votes squarely lies with the polling agents whom every candidate is at liberty to deploy at each polling station,” the EC Chairperson stated.
He further referred to Section 50(3) of the same Act, which entitles candidates or their agents to be present throughout the voting and counting process in order to safeguard their interests. According to the Commission, these provisions adequately ensure transparency and accountability without requiring ordinary voters to remain at polling stations after casting their ballots.
On the issue of “kabanje”—demanding for results—Justice Byabakama cited Section 53(1)(d) of the Act, which obliges the presiding officer to issue a copy of the Declaration of Results (DR) form to each candidate’s agent at the polling station.
“It is not the role of every voter to demand for a copy of the Declaration of Results form from the presiding officer,” he emphasized, adding that a voter’s role legally ends after voting unless he or she is officially appointed as a polling agent.
The EC Chairperson warned that encouraging large numbers of voters or non-voters to congregate near polling stations poses serious risks. These include the likelihood of arguments, disorder, or violence that could disrupt voting or counting; congestion at polling stations—especially in urban areas where space is limited; and the risk of compromising the secrecy of the ballot if the legally required 20-metre distance from the polling table is not observed.
Justice Byabakama also noted that with eight presidential candidates and numerous parliamentary contenders in many constituencies—each entitled to deploy two agents—polling stations are already vulnerable to overcrowding without voters lingering for long hours.
“The presence of voters or non-voters near a polling station adds no value to the interests of any candidate,” he said, warning that such gatherings instead jeopardize those interests if disruptive conduct occurs.
The Commission reiterated its guidance that voters who have cast their ballots should return home and may only come back at 4:00 p.m. to witness the counting process, while strictly observing the 20-metre distance.
Justice Byabakama consequently warned candidates to desist from inciting supporters to remain around polling stations under the pretext of protecting or demanding votes. He stressed that the absence of voters near polling stations does not undermine any candidate’s interests, since the presence of duly accredited polling agents is sufficient.
“The large number of agents at each polling station is more than adequate to safeguard the interests of all candidates,” he noted.The EC statement comes as eight presidential candidates eye the country’s top political office ahead of the January 15, 2026 polls.
They include incumbent Yoweri Tibuhaburwa Kaguta Museveni of the National Resistance Movement (NRM); Kasibante Robert of the National Peasants Party (NPP); Mabirizi Joseph of the Conservative Party (CP); Nandala Mafabi James Nathan of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC); Mugisha Gregory Muntu Oyera of the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT); Kyagulanyi Ssentamu Robert of the National Unity Platform (NUP); Munyagwa Mubarak Sserunga of the Common Man’s Party (CMP); and Bulira Frank Kabinga of the Revolutionary People’s Party (RPP).
Earlier this week, the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, while speaking at a piping ceremony for senior and general officers promoted last month, also appealed to Ugandans to vote peacefully and return home thereafter instead of lingering at polling stations.
Gen Muhoozi said the vote-counting process would be transparent, noting that agents of all candidates, international observers, and the media would be present to witness the exercise.
“There is no need to hang around saying that people are protecting votes. The process will be transparent,” he said.
The EC’s guidance comes amid calls by the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) for supporters to protect their votes under its Protest Vote Campaign.
NUP presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi has on several occasions urged supporters to protect and demand their votes instead of leaving immediately after voting. Meanwhile, the Attorney General and Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Norbert Mao, has publicly disagreed with the Chief of Defence Forces, arguing that the law permits voters to remain at polling stations after casting their ballots.
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