By Diana N. Kintu
The Electoral Commission (EC) has unveiled new measures aimed at enhancing the credibility and transparency of election results, with the introduction of barcodes on Declaration of Results (DR) forms. The move comes in response to longstanding concerns over the integrity of election documentation, following reports that some forms had been forged or altered before reaching returning officers.
Declaration forms are central to Uganda’s electoral process. They record the number of votes obtained by each candidate at individual polling stations, the total number of ballots cast, as well as invalid or spoiled votes. Each form is signed by the presiding officer and agents representing the candidates before being transmitted to tally centres, where the final results are compiled and verified.
Anthony Okello, the Commissioner overseeing the Central North and West Nile subregions, explained that the new system is designed to make it significantly more difficult for results to be tampered with. “Each declaration form will now be customised for a specific polling station, similar to ballot papers,” Okello said. He noted that once results are finalised and signed by all agents, presiding officers will use the camera on the Biometric Voter Verification Kit (BVVK) to capture an image of the form before it is delivered to the returning officer.
The barcodes, he added, will be scanned by returning officers to verify the authenticity of each DR form. Any document that has been altered or does not match the original record will be automatically rejected by the system, preventing fraudulent submissions from affecting overall results. “This will no longer be an issue following the introduction of barcodes on declaration forms, which will be readable by the Biometric Voter Verification Kit,” Okello stated.
The EC emphasises that the innovation is part of broader efforts to promote transparency and bolster public confidence in Uganda’s electoral processes. By securing the integrity of results at the polling station level, the Commission hopes to minimise disputes and ensure that voters’ choices are accurately reflected in the final tally.
Election experts and civic observers have welcomed the development, noting that the use of technology to protect critical electoral documents is a step forward for Uganda’s democratic process. “The introduction of barcodes is a practical solution that enhances the verifiability of results and reduces the potential for manipulation,” said one analyst who requested anonymity.
The Commission is also conducting training sessions for presiding officers and returning officers on the new system, ensuring that staff are familiar with the barcode verification process and the use of the BVVK for capturing and transmitting results. This capacity-building effort is expected to reduce procedural errors and reinforce the reliability of the electoral process ahead of the 2026 general elections.
The introduction of barcodes on DR forms marks a significant milestone in Uganda’s electoral reforms, which have increasingly focused on combining technological solutions with traditional checks and balances. By digitising and securing critical election documents, the EC seeks to maintain the credibility of the vote, foster public trust, and mitigate the risk of post-election disputes.
As preparations continue for the 2026 elections, the Electoral Commission has assured the public that all measures will be implemented across the country, reinforcing the principle that every vote counts and that the final results will be a true reflection of the will of Ugandans.