Ugandans urged to embrace voter register updates

Apr 29, 2015

WITH the Electoral Commission (EC) extending the deadline for updating the national voters’ register by four more days, ending on May 4, women rights activists have rallied citizens

By Francis Emorut                

 

WITH the Electoral Commission (EC) extending the deadline for updating the national voters’ register by four more days, ending on May 4, women rights activists have rallied citizens to verify their names during the update exercise.

 

"All citizens who registered during the national identification registration should go and pick their identification cards at the centers where they registered," Rita Aciro stated in a press statement released by Women Democracy Group in Kampala.

 

They called upon fellow women and youth to go and update their names and for the latter to register before the exercise closes.

 

The activists observed that women of Uganda make over 50% of the population.

 

"Our numbers can only make a difference if women participate in the electoral process particularly voter registration so as to for vote leaders in 2016 elections,” Aciro who is the executive director of Uganda Women's Network said.

  

The Electoral commission had designated dates April 7-30, for voters register update exercise which has since been extended. 

 

"Every citizen of 18 years and above who has not registered should go to the nearest update center and register," she stated.

 

The women activists noted that display of the voters register starts on June 2 and ends on June 22, as per the EC road map.

 

They implored all citizens to participate in the exercise because their vote matters for electing their leaders.

 

"This is the time for the citizens to hold their leaders accountable for the five years of their term of office," Aciro said

 

The women said they conducted a survey in 12 districts to establish how citizens are responding to voters register update exercise and found that some women were prevented their husbands to participate in the exercise.

 

The 12 districts are Arua, Yumbe, Koboko, Lira, and Oyam.

 

Others are Mayuge, Pader, Iganga, Wakiso, Kisoro, Moroto and Kampala.

 

"A few reports indicated that some women were prevented by their husbands from participating in the exercise. The implication of this is that it denies women an equal opportunity with men to participate in governance," the women's statement reads in part.

 

The women pointed out that it is a right of every citizen to participate in the governance of their country

 

The Women's Democracy Group comprises of Action for Development, Center for Women in Governance, Forum for Women in Democracy, Uganda Women's Network and Women's Democracy Network-Uganda Chapter.

 

The activists advised EC and other actors to pursue other ways of communication including community radios in markets and use of translated posters in public places to reduce voter apathy.

 

"Voter apathy is still prevalent and may affect the objectives of the exercise," Aciro said.

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