Kampala, Uganda — The United States Government (USG), through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), has partnered with the Uganda Electoral Commission to post Uganda's entire voter registry online in a searchable and secure format at www.nvr.ec.or.ug.

"Anybody with internet access can now use this system to view one's voter information as well as one's voter location details," Badru Kiggundu, the Uganda Electoral Commission chairman said.

"This information is read only, you cannot change anything."

When wants to change the existing information to be corrected, they can only do so by reporting at their local polling station of the Electoral Commission.

This online system will make the voter registry more transparent and accessible by allowing individual voters to verify their registration status and polling station assignment via the internet.

Posting the registry online will also enable political parties and civil society organizations to print voter registration lists for individual polling stations throughout Uganda.

Since many Ugandan voters do not have internet access, the U.S. Government, the Electoral Commission, and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) is also working to develop an SMS/ text messaging system that will allow any voter with a cell phone to verify his or her voter registration status and polling station assignment via SMS text message.

This SMS text messaging system should be fully operational soon.

At the August 25 lauch of the new online system, Ambassador Lanier said, "In addition to rendering the voter registry more transparent and accessible, posting this document online should boost voter confidence in Uganda's electoral processes, improve the effectiveness voter registration display process now underway.

Also to reduce confusion over polling assignments and registration status on election day, and reinforce the foundations necessary for free and fair elections."

This activity is part of the USG's ongoing support to democracy and governance in Uganda and was supported though a $600,000 USAID grant to IFES to work with the Electoral Commission to develop a secure website at www.nvr.ec.or.ug and post the full Uganda Voter Regiteration list online.

The project aims to enhance the transparency and accountability of election management process and increase voter confidence in advance of the 2011 general elections.