UPC party President Jimmy Akena has asked the Electoral commission to allocate more time to young people to register and update their details to ensure their full participation in the 2026 general elections.

Akena, who was addressing the media on January 22, 2025 at the party head offices at Uganda House in Kampala, reasoned out that the time given by the Commission for this exercise which runs till February 2025 is not sufficient enough to get all the youths registered.

“We have had by elections and voters register update is done on time. Why are you cutting off all of these young Ugandans who should have an opportunity to vote?” Akena asked.

He pledged to engage the different stake holders to make sure these young people register and be able to effectively determine their leaders.

“Am going to use everything within the means available and call upon IPOD and other institutions to let Ugandans be able to determine their own future in the next elections and ending the registration exercise in February is something that is not going to be acceptable,” Akena said.

The UPC president revealed his bid plans for presidency ditching the member of Parliament race in the coming 2026 elections.

However, on the issue of the Kawempe North by election, Akena said that so far he is not aware of any UPC candidate interested in the by-election though any contestant has the guarantee of the Party leadership.

Akena’s remarks about voter registration come at a time when the electoral commission is carrying out the voter’s register update exercise which started on Monday January, 20, 2025 until February, 10, 2025 an exercise meant to take 21 days inclusive of weekends.

Yesterday January, 21, 2025 the FDC party president Patrick Amuriat Oboi voiced the same concerns saying that the time allocated for the voter register update is very limited, yet the process is very critical.

According to the electoral commission, the update of the National Voters Register is very significant because it is through this exercise that the Commission will generate a credible National Voters Register and for one to be able to be a voter, a candidate, an agent of a candidate, or to be able to raise a petition in the event that there is an election matter, one must first and foremost be a registered voter, and must be on the National Voters Register.