EC report says only 6,903 of 50,739 kits workedBy Prisca WanyenyaThe Electoral Commission has admitted that after spending UGX262,552,042,861 on the acquisition of the Biometric Voter Verification System (BVVS), only 6,903 of the 50,739 Biometric Voter Verification Kits (BVVK) were successfully used during both presidential and parliamentary elections, translating into a 13.6 percent success rate.“The Biometric Voter Verification Kits (BVVK) performance during presidential and general parliamentary elections: BVVK were successfully used in 6,903 of the 50,739 (13.6%) polling stations from the start to the end of polling activities in 78 districts. High usage was noted in eight districts, with over 95% of polling stations implementing BVVS, i.e. Bududa (100%), Soroti City (100%), Nebbi (100%), Katakwi (99.61%), Bulambuli (99.22%), Napak (97.24%), Bukwo (96.32%) and Namisindwa (95.30%),” the report reads.The details are contained in the September 2026 report on the 2025/2026 General Elections published by the Commission on October 29, 2026 on its website and social media platforms. The Commission revealed that out of 146 districts, the machines were successfully used in only 78 districts.“The failure to use the BVVKs at the remaining 43,836 polling stations caused a delay in the start of polling activities. Consequently, guidance was given by the Commission to commence polling with the aid of the National Voters Register at the affected polling stations as primary document for identification of voters. The Commission implemented critical remedial steps to address the challenges faced which markedly improved BVVK utilisation in subsequent rounds of elections,” the report notes.Why EC Bought the MachinesThe Electoral Commission defended its decision to purchase the BVVS, saying it came after evaluating the feasibility of mandatory use of BVVK for verification of each voter within the legal voting time of 7:00am to 4:00pm. The assessment indicated need to split a number of polling stations to accommodate not more than 600 voters.The exercise was carried out from July 21 to September 3, 2025, resulting in an additional 12,424 polling stations. Consequently, the number of polling stations increased from 38,315 to 50,739, which were published in both print media and the Uganda Gazette.“As a result, 109,142 Biometric Voter Verification Kits (BVVKs) and power banks were procured. A total of 101,478 of these were deployed across 50,739 polling stations nationwide for the four rounds of elections. Each polling station was allocated two BVVKs: a primary and a backup kit in case of failure of the primary kit. The remaining 7,664 BVVKs were used for training purposes,” the report states.Local Government ElectionsWhile detailing performance during Local Government Council elections at district/city level, the Commission noted that kits were considered in only 34 of the 146 districts/cities due to time constraints to update all BVVKs.The kits were effectively used in 7,944 of the 8,544 (93.0%) polling stations in these districts, with 21 of the 34 districts (62%) achieving 100% utilisation during polling.Despite the challenges surrounding the BVVK system, the Commission said there is increasing demand for election technology and that deployment of the Biometric Voter Verification System (BVVS), Election Management Integrated System (EMIS) and other digital systems significantly enhanced electoral management.“Expanding technological innovations requires sustained investment in ICT infrastructure, technical support personnel, connectivity and continuous capacity building. The increasing use of digital communication platforms presents opportunities for wider dissemination of electoral information while also requiring sustained public awareness efforts to counter misinformation/disinformation and promote accurate understanding of electoral processes,” the report notes.Other ChallengesThe Commission highlighted challenges in implementing the 2025/2026 Roadmap, including untimely release of funds.“Although government continued to finance the electoral process, untimely release of funds remains a challenge. Timely release of funds is essential for early procurement, recruitment, voter education, logistics, deployment of technology and implementation of electoral activities in accordance with the Roadmap. The Commission continues to operate under rented premises which presents challenges in terms of office space, storage facilities, warehousing and packing space,” the report states.The Commission also noted that the continued increase in polling stations, registered voters and elective positions has expanded its operational responsibilities and resource requirements, necessitating continuous investment in infrastructure, transport, IT, storage facilities and human resources.It further decried the high rate of commercialisation of politics, arguing that this alienates potential political actors and is an impediment to democracy.RecommendationsThe Electoral Commission made several recommendations to improve elections, including need for government to provide timely and adequate funding to facilitate early planning and implementation of activities under the electoral roadmap.It also recommended timely review, enactment and amendment of electoral laws well in advance of general elections to facilitate effective planning, procurement, training and voter education.“Government should enact stringent laws on commercialisation of politics and its offenders. Political parties and organisations should continue strengthening internal democratic processes and timely resolution of internal electoral disputes to minimise disruption of national electoral programmes,” the report recommends.The post Shs262bn for 13% Success: EC Report Exposes Dismal Performance of Biometric Voter Kits appeared first on Business Focus.