Byabakama to EC staff: Respect the hijab

By Issa Kigongo
The Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Justice Simon Byabakama, has issued a warning to staff involved in the ongoing voter register update, cautioning them against removing the headscarves of Muslim women during the registration process.
Byabakama emphasized that such actions would be considered a violation of guidelines and could lead to legal consequences.
Speaking during a media briefing on the voter register update exercise, which has been extended to Monday, February 17, 2025, Byabakama revealed that he had received numerous complaints regarding the issue. He assured the public that the Commission would take immediate action to address the matter.
“I have received several complaints, and I will be writing to the staff of the Electoral Commission involved in this exercise to ensure they adhere to the guidelines set by the National Identification Registration Authority (NIRA). NIRA has been registering Muslim women without such complaints, and we expect the same standards to be followed,” Byabakama stated.
“If any registration officer requests a Muslim woman to remove her headscarf, that is wrong. We have already sent out a message to all staff to follow the methods used by NIRA in registering citizens. This must stop immediately,” Byabakama reiterated.
The issue was recently brought to the attention of Parliament by Aisha Asha Kabanda ,Butambala Woman MP. In an interview with The Friday Call, Kabanda urged Muslim women to report any incidents of this nature to her or their local MPs so that appropriate action could be taken.

Kabanda also addressed misconceptions about the visibility of ears in identification photos, emphasizing that such interpretations are inconsistent with Islamic teachings. “Some officials misinterpret the guidelines, claiming that ears must be visible. This is incorrect according to Islamic faith, as ears should remain covered. Such practices should not be tolerated,” she said.
Additionally, Kabanda called on the government to upgrade its technology to accommodate religious and cultural practices. She criticized claims that cameras and equipment cannot detect faces covered by scarves, urging authorities to address the issue promptly.
“It is high time the government addressed its technological limitations. Some officials claim that the technology cannot detect faces covered by scarves, but this seems like a programmed exclusion of Muslims from the system. This issue has been raised in Parliament multiple times, and it is imperative that the government takes action,” Kabanda noted.