Electorate need voter education

As the 2021 General Election fast approaches, those who have been nominated to stand for various posts are trying their best to get the electorate and ask them for their vote. Posters in nearly every district can be seen, especially in the urban centres pasted on electric poles, wires or ropes tied up across road. 

Because the elections will happen amid the Covid-19 pandemic, many of the rules of the game, including on campaigns, have changed. The questions is, are the voters fully aware of the rules? Do they know what to expect? 

One of the mandates of the Electoral Commission is to educate the people about their rights, what they require in order to vote and how to prepare themselves for the event. 
With only two months to 2021 General Election, time is running out and these messages should have already been shared on different platforms to reach as many people as possible. 

Emphasis has been put on the candidates vying for different positions, their nominations, mode of campaigns  and other important information, and this is good. However, the electorate who will vote for their leaders, are just as important, and their education must start now.

In addition, it is important that as a nation, we find ways to educate citizens about the roles of the people they will be electing into power. It is not uncommon to hear the electorate say on voting day, as they went to the ballot, they knew only of the persons they wanted to vote for as president, Member of Parliament, and district chairman, among others. 

During the voting when they see a number of other people to be elected into office, they are confused and either do not vote or tick a familiar name or face. Many are not aware of what the councillors, for example, are meant to do and provide, and so ignore or do not interest themselves in these matters. 

In regard to MPs, as the Speaker of Parliament has constantly stated, and the Uganda Parliament website shows, an MP’s role is not to build roads, or schools or manage their constituency’s administrative affairs.

Their role is to legislate, appropriate the budget and monitor misuse of funds and bring to attention unlawful activities. 

However, many people believe that their MP should construct for them boreholes, improve services and other things. These roles are instead for other people, most of whom are elected.

The voters should, therefore, be taught who manages the money purse for their district, who is responsible for ensuring their towns are clean and getting them clean water. If they know who these are, they are likely to vote wisely and keep the leaders accountable.