The Electoral Commission (EC) has reassured Ugandans that the January 15 general elections will be conducted in a transparent and lawful manner, outlining clear procedures for how results will be counted, announced, and transmitted.
As concerns continue to emerge from candidates and voters, the Commission said it is committed to following the law strictly at every stage of the process.
EC Chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama explained that results from each polling station will be announced immediately after counting is completed.
He said this announcement will take place at the polling station itself, in the presence of candidates’ agents, observers, and voters who wish to witness the process.
According to the EC, this step ensures that results are known at the source before they are transmitted elsewhere.
After being announced at the polling station, the results will be forwarded to district tally centres. Justice Byabakama noted that the figures will once again be announced at the district level before being transmitted to the national tally centre, as required by law.
“The law is very clear on how results should be handled, and we shall not depart from it,” the EC chairperson said, adding that presiding officers have been instructed to strictly follow all legal procedures, especially when handling Declaration of Results forms.
To further strengthen transparency, the Commission revealed that a large public screen will be installed at the national tally centre.
The screen will display incoming results in real time as they are received from districts, allowing the public, media, and political stakeholders to follow the tallying process.
Justice Byabakama also addressed concerns about candidates who may still appear on ballot papers despite withdrawing or being disqualified after nomination.
He explained that because some ballots have already been printed, the EC will ensure that voters in affected areas are clearly informed to avoid confusion on polling day.
On election-related court cases, the EC chairperson said petitions currently under consideration will not interfere with the voting process.
He assured the public that regardless of their outcome, the elections will proceed as planned.
The Commission said these measures are part of wider efforts to build public confidence and prevent disputes arising from misunderstandings about result handling.
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