By Juma Nsubuga
The Chairman Electoral Commission Justice Simon Byamukama has revealed that the Shs300m government gives to the Commission every financial year to carryout voter education country wide is just a peanuts.
Byamukama revealed this during an engagement with the Equal Opportunities Commission about enhancing inclusive political participation at EOC headquarters in Kampala.
“There is a general outcry that civic /voters education is lacking among the population” he said but however, added that despite lacking enough funds, the Electoral Commission has played its roles as far as voters education is concerned by engaging the public through outreaches and media among others.
“Our budget for voters education every financial year is just only Shs300m. What can shs300M do if we have to carryout exhaustive meaningful voters education outreaches” he questioned.
Justice Byamukama said that proper voters education must be a direct interaction with the masses and demonstrate to them something which cannot be done via radios.
He said that the Commission needs at least Shs3bn to enable them carry out meaningful voters education.
“Despite getting minimal resources, we are not sitting down. Our parishes and Subcounties supervisors conduct /sensitize the masses about voters education” he noted.
The EOC also tasked Byabamukama to explain about the low voters turn up during general elections.
The smart EC boss attributed this to low mobilization by people who have roles in electoral processes mainly candidates and political parties.
“This is something of great concern. When we have low voter turn up there is a huge wastage of resources. It is a great concern. We use taxe payers money to print ballot papers. They’re not not printed in Uganda but out of the country using dollars. Article 1 of the constitution gives people powers to exercise their rights but once they don’t turn up to cast votes, it means they are not using their rights” he said.
Byamukama further appealed to all concerned stakeholders in electoral processes including political parties to always mobilize their supporters to turn up in big number and vote.
“We appeal to the population to mobilize one another not to remain behind on the polling day” he said.
He said that in developed countries its mandatory to eligible citizen to vote but in Uganda it is option and by choice. Byamukama observed the need to address the issue of low voter turn up to avoid wastage of public resources.
The EOC also asked Byamukama about the Electoral Commission’s plan for the special interest groups in the upcoming elections.
“Of course you can only succeed in a free and fair elections when the process is inclusive. EC has made all efforts to ensure all stakeholders are part of the process by having various engagements with them” he confirmed.
About electoral violence, the EC boss said that if the country is to have peaceful elections, all stakeholders must say a sounding no to violence.
“Violence can be avoided. Its we the individuals who perpatuate violence without any good reasons. Violence is against the law. Intimidating voters is also against the law, assaulting voters is against the the law and using hateful language is also against the law. As Electoral Commission, we appeal to all stakeholders to conduct themselves in accordance with the laws and guidelines issued and be tolerant to one another” he appealed.
Meanwhile, the secretary to the Equal Opportunities Commission (STC) Shaft Nassar Mukwaaya urged the Electoral Commission to always publicize to the public about the updates on the elections of special interests groups.
“Am glad that you have confirmed that elections for special interests groups will commence next month but the information is not disseminated. Its only the elite youths in urban areas who have the information but those in rural areas don’t have it. So i request EC to increase on the publicity about elections of special interest groups” He said.
The chairperson of EOC, Safia Nalule Jjuuko recommended to the Electoral Commission to put in place a robust and comprehensive mechanism for civic education.
“Electoral Commission should also put in place mechanisms to promote free and fair elections where electoral violence and voter intimidation is eliminated” she said.
She further urged the electoral commission to consider facilitating all the voters in the electoral colleges for electing MPs and councilors of special interest groups.
