In a recent post-election statement, President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda staunchly defended the use of Biometric Voter Verification (BVV) machines during the elections, emphasizing their role in enhancing electoral integrity and curbing potential fraud. He argued that this technology mitigates long-standing practices of vote manipulation, framing it as part of the historical narrative of stability and reform under his National Resistance Movement (NRM). Museveni’s statement, delivered on February 12, 2026, resonates with his typical rhetoric entwining technological advancement with national progress.

Museveni claimed that the BVV machines served as a decisive factor in neutralizing the opposition's capacity to cheat in elections, stating, "The death-knell to the opposition were the BVV machines," and described their loss as a critical turning point for the electoral landscape in Uganda. The President’s comments reflect a broader strategy to showcase the NRM's commitment to transparency and democratic processes amidst a backdrop of critiques from opposition parties claiming electoral malpractice.

This defense of technology in elections comes at a time when Uganda is grappling with the implications of electoral practices and the opposition's challenges in asserting itself within a political environment that has been described as increasingly difficult. Museveni's remarks indicate a continued focus on institutional reforms as he aims to build public confidence in the electoral system while simultaneously discrediting the opposition's narratives surrounding electoral fairness and credibility.