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Local leaders decry low voter registration turnout, urge sensitisation

Citizens queue near Qualicel bus terminal in Kampala to verify their details during the national voter registration exercise on January 20, 2025. Photo/Kelvin Atuhaire

What you need to know:

  • To address the low turnout, some local leaders suggested using public systems to remind people to update their voter information

Local leaders from Rubaga division are sounding the alarm, calling for increased sensitisation on the upcoming general elections.

They claim that Ugandans are still hesitant to participate in the ongoing voter registration and update exercise.

Speaking to the media on the second day of the exercise, LCI Chairperson Mutundwe II Joseph Mubanda noted that while the exercise started well, voters are not well-informed about the process.

"Majority of the voters were not well-sensitized with the exercise of updating the voters' register," Mubanda said. He explained that citizens are confused, thinking that the exercise is about verifying voters rather than updating the register. "People expect to find their registers on the polling centers, unfortunately, they find people registering and others changing their voting locations."

Mubanda emphasised the need for more sensitization, particularly in having the old hard copy of the register available, as some individuals expect to search for their names on the physical register.

Chairman Mutundwe Kirinyabiggo Kanaala zone, Tonny Ssekitoleko, echoed Mubanda's concerns, stating that voter turnout is still low despite the limited timeframe for the exercise.

"We expect to have big numbers towards the end of the exercise because we know Ugandans tend to turn up towards the end," Ssekitoleko said.

To address the low turnout, Ssekitoleko suggested using public systems to remind people to update their voter information. "We need sensitization on general elections because people have ignored the exercise, not knowing it will affect them on the D-day when they want to vote for their leaders."

Gerald Mukasa from Wakaliga Ssekabaka polling station, Rubaga division, emphasised the importance of continuous announcements from the government to remind Ugandans about the exercise.

"People who are working have only weekends to update their names, and if they are not reminded, they will miss the chance to register for the coming elections," Mukasa said.

The voter registration update exercise, which runs from January 20 to February 10, 2025, aims to prepare the National Voters' Register for the 2025/2026 general elections.