DF Warns Of A Looming Election Crisis Tied To Biometric Voter Machines

The opposition Democratic Front (DF) has raised a clear warning about gaps in the country’s electoral process, saying the credibility of the polls is at risk unless the Electoral Commission takes corrective steps. The five-month-old party stresses that these concerns are urgent and need action before polling day.

At a press briefing held at the DF headquarters in Namirembe on December 17, 2025, party President Mathias Mpuuga outlined how the nation is moving toward an election with unresolved structural and procedural weaknesses.

Flanked by other party officials including national chairman Samuel Lubega Mukaaku, national spokesperson Moses Kasibante, Ntebbe Municipality MP Micheal Kakembo Mbwatekamwa, Bishop Tomusange Bifaaki, the DF flag bearer for Mityana North, among others, noted that these weaknesses threaten integrity, transparency, and fairness.

Mpuuga who has been consistent in calling for free and fair election preparations since 2021 through making wide-ranging constitutional and electoral reforms before the forthcoming 2026 elections. Accordingly, he has repeatedly raised the matter of the Electoral Commission introducing biometric voter machines without an enabling law, and warned that this legal gap undermines confidence.

However, his calls were largely ignored by the majority of opposition players for a long time. Many have only now realized the gravity of the issues he was cautioning them about, and this recognition has come late, at a point when little can be changed.

While the use of biometric voter verification kits is presented as a way to strengthen election integrity on polling day, Mpuuga said the procurement and rollout have been handled in secrecy. He pointed out that key stakeholders were not involved or meaningfully consulted.

He faulted the Electoral Commission for failing to disclose the identity of the supplier and the procurement process followed. He also questioned the due diligence undertaken and the exact number and capacity of the machines meant to serve millions of voters in one day.

Mpuuga cautioned that this lack of transparency mirrors experiences in neighboring countries, asserting that compromised suppliers were allegedly used elsewhere to manipulate electoral systems, leading to instability and violence.

He stressed that the situation demands immediate corrective measures by the Electoral Commission. He urged openness about suppliers and processes, clarity on legal authority, and proper testing and stakeholder oversight to restore public trust.

The DF stance is that elections must be credible and lawful. The party president underlined that the current approach puts the polls at risk and that late recognition by others should not stop necessary transparency and safeguards from being put in place now.