By a mere click of a button, every computer literate Ugandan will know if their names are on the national voters' register.

This is an innovation the Eng. Badru Kiggundu-led elections body has introduced, six months to the general polls. The polls are slated for February 2011. The new method was launched in Kampala yesterday by the deputy Attorney General, Mr Fred Ruhindi.

The programme was developed by the Electoral Commission in partnership with the US government, through the United States Agency for International Development. The online system will make the voter registry more transparent and accessible by allowing individual voters to verify their registration details.

Speaking during the launch, the US ambassador, Mr Jerry Lanier, said his government was working with the EC to introduce SMS text message voter register verification. "We are all interested in a free, fair and peaceful election," he said.

Opposition party leaders who were present at the launch complained of lack of photos of voters on the online register. However, Dr Kiggundu said the EC could not post the photos "because it was a legal advice that it should not be indicated." He did not clarify further.

How it works

To check for your registration details online, visit the EC website; www.ec.or.ug and click on the upper right rectangular box with words 'online national voter register.' Upon clicking the box, you choose a district, a county, a sub-county and all polling details until you see your name appear in the list of those registered at your polling station.