The Electoral Commission has begun an evaluation of the implementation of the 2025/2026 electoral roadmap in the Rwenzori region seeking to identify achievements, challenges and lessons that will improve the management of future elections.
The evaluation exercise which started on Tuesday in Fort Portal City brought together former candidates, security personnel, district election officials, civil society organizations and other key electoral stakeholders from the Tooro and Rwenzori sub-regions.
Speaking during the meeting, Caroline Beinamaryo the Electoral Commission Commissioner for the Mid-West Region said the exercise is intended to comprehensively assess the entire electoral process by documenting successes, identifying challenges encountered during election preparation, polling, and collecting recommendations for future improvements.
Beinamaryo said the Commission aims to generate practical proposals that will make future elections more effective, efficient, inclusive and transparent.
She explained that the review covers all stages of the electoral process, including voter registration, voter education and public information, polling station reorganization, and the demarcation of Local Government electoral areas.
“We want to objectively assess what worked well, identify areas requiring improvement, and develop recommendations that will strengthen future electoral processes.” She explained.
She added that views collected from stakeholders across the region will provide valuable feedback as the Commission reviews its electoral systems and prepares for future elections.
Ismail Atwijukyire the Regional Election Officer for Tooro and Rwenzori said the evaluation demonstrates the Commission’s commitment to continuously improving electoral management and ensuring future elections are conducted in a credible, transparent and orderly manner.
During the discussions participants highlighted several challenges experienced during the elections, including malfunctioning biometric voter verification machines, delays in the delivery of electoral materials, and excessive campaign spending by some candidates.
They urged the Commission to address these issues before the next electoral cycle.
Joseph Karungi the Kamwenge District Chairperson noted that the cost of participating in elections has become prohibitively high, making it difficult for many capable people to contest for leadership positions.
He also called for stricter enforcement of the electoral code of conduct, saying some candidates spread false allegations against their opponents during campaigns.
According to Karungi, such practices mislead voters, fuel unnecessary tensions and undermine the integrity of the electoral process.
Edward Itoote the Executive Director of ToroNet a civil society organization said the failure of biometric voter verification machines on the first day of polling prevented many eligible voters from casting their ballots.
He urged the Electoral Commission to thoroughly test and service all electoral equipment before polling day to prevent technical failures that can delay voting, reduce voter turnout and undermine public confidence in the electoral process.
Itoote said ensuring that voter verification machines are fully functional before polling begins would enable voting to start on time, minimize delays at polling stations and guarantee that every eligible voter is able to exercise their constitutional right to vote-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
