The Electoral Commission (EC) has asked Parliament to approve a supplementary budget of Shs 469.5 billion to fund key activities ahead of the January 2026 elections.
The commission says new technological demands, cabinet directives and the expansion of polling stations have created urgent financial needs that cannot be met under the current budget.
The request was presented to Parliament’s Budget Committee by Richard Kamugisha, the Acting Secretary to the Commission. He told MPs that early and sufficient funding is essential for the EC to deliver credible, transparent and efficient polls.
According to the budget schedule, more than half of the requested funds will go towards strengthening the commission’s technological infrastructure, particularly the equipment used during voter verification.
The EC plans to procure upgraded biometric voter verification systems with improved speed and accuracy. This will cost Shs 268. 3 billion.
Kamugisha said cabinet directed them to deploy more advanced technology in the 2026 elections, forcing a fresh round of procurement and system integration.
Part of the funds (Shs 19.6 billion) will also be used to acquire a more robust de-duplication system. This technology detects and eliminates multiple registrations by the same individual. The EC argues that this safeguard is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the National Voters Register and ensuring that every voter is counted only once.
EC is also seeking funds to support the expansion of polling stations from about 38,000 to 50,739 across the country. Kamugisha told the committee that the creation of 15,256 new polling stations follows a cabinet directive to reorganise and reduce congestion at polling points.
The EC says the expanded network will require thousands of additional polling officials, more biometric equipment, more training sessions, more voter education materials and extra logistical support. These factors have contributed significantly to the need for additional resources.
He warned that failure to approve the funds in time would delay procurement and training, disrupt preparation schedules and undermine the quality of the 2026 polls.
The Budget Committee will look into the request and present its recommendations to Parliament. If the House approves the supplementary schedule, the EC plans to immediately begin the procurement of biometric kits, upgrade its data systems and roll out logistical arrangements ahead of the election timeline.
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