DA Walks The Talk, Meets EC To Foster 2026 Free And Fair Elections

In a bid to ensure free and fair elections in Uganda, the Democratic Alliance (DA) met with the Electoral Commission (EC) on January 16, 2025, to discuss key electoral management issues.

This meeting follows a January 15, 2025, engagement with the opposition Justice Forum (Jeema) party, where DA leaders emphasized the importance of rallying political actors to work towards a common goal.

According to Mathias Mpuuga, the Nyendo-Mukungwe MP, who is the national coordinator of the Democratic Alliance, “They [the Electoral Commission] gladly offered this meeting to interact with us on a wide range of issues that relate to electoral management.”

Addressing the media outside the EC’s boardroom after their cordial meeting that lasted for two (2) hours, Mpuuga appreciated the EC’s willingness to engage with the DA, stating that they had shared their frustrations, fears, and concerns and that the EC had responded positively.

The EC promised to formally write back to the DA, addressing the issues raised during the meeting, and condensed in a document.

Inside the EC’s meeting room where Justice Simon Byabakama was the chair, one of the key areas of discussion was the demarcation of constituencies, given the recent national census.

On this, Mpuuga noted that the EC informed them that the process is incomplete due to missing information by the electoral body from the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA).

The DA also raised concerns about the national voter register, both manual and biometric, which has been a contentious issue in past electoral challenges.

According to Mpuuga, the EC committed to reconciling the dual voter register, both legally and practically.

Another critical area of discussion was the court decision compelling the EC to organize voting for prisoners and Ugandans in the diaspora to participate in an election. However, Mpuuga said that the EC frankly told them that as much as they would be ready to organise elections for both categories, their hands are tied, since it is not within their mandate to amend the laws.

“We have asked them how they are dealing with a court decision in Karaali Vs Attorney General and the Electoral Commission that compels them to organize for the voting of prisoners and the diaspora, and the response has been-they are ready as long as the legal framework is facilitative because it is not their mandate to change the law, it’s a mandate of parliament.”

On the issue of electoral reforms, Mpuuga emphasized the importance of dual responsibility between political actors, especially in Parliament to move and amend the electoral laws, and the EC.

“It would not be fair to say that all these issues entirely lie on them. Some issues are supposed to be acted on after some laws have been amended to facilitate what they are supposed to do,” Mpuuga who has already proposed a compendium of Constitutional, and electoral reforms’ amendments, said.

The DA’s meeting with the EC is a significant step towards fostering free and fair elections in Uganda. As Mpuuga aptly put it, “We believe it is our mandate as MPs to try and push through parliament to make sure that the reforms and amendments into the laws are made.”