NRM Caucus Spokesperson Calls for Audit of BVVK Machines After Election Glitches

The Spokesperson of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Parliamentary Caucus and Kagoma North Member of Parliament Alex Brandon Kintu has called for a comprehensive audit of the Biometric Voter Verification Kits (BVVKs) used during the January 15, 2026 general elections, citing widespread technical failures and concerns about electoral transparency.

Speaking on Next Big Talk hosted by Next Radio, Kintu stressed the need for accountability in the utilisation of public funds.

“The BVVK machines didn’t work in the recent presidential and parliamentary elections; we need an audit. Given that these activities were funded with taxpayers’ money, demanding an audit is a sober and responsible action,” he said.

The nationwide elections were marked by operational challenges linked to the biometric devices, which had been introduced to strengthen electoral integrity through digital voter verification. Reports from several polling stations indicated that some machines malfunctioned or failed to start.

In response, the Electoral Commission of Uganda directed returning officers to proceed with voting using the manual voters’ register in accordance with electoral guidelines, a move it said was necessary to prevent voter disenfranchisement.

While the Commission defended the decision as pragmatic, critics argued that reverting to manual verification undermined the transparency and credibility that biometric systems were meant to enhance.

The latest call for an audit also comes against the backdrop of longstanding electoral disputes, including allegations by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni following the 2021 elections that opposition actors had influenced millions of votes—claims that have remained contested.

With fresh concerns emerging over the reliability and implementation of BVVK technology, stakeholders say a thorough review could help restore public confidence in future electoral processes.