The Chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC) has asked Ugandans to go and check on their names in the voters’ registers as early as possible to avoid disappointments on polling day in 2021.
Simon Byabakama who was speaking during the official launch of the National Voters’ Register Update in Kampala region said voting is a constitutional right that every Ugandan has. However, if one’s name is missing on the voter’s register she/he will not be allowed to vote.
“This update exercise is a rallying call to every citizen that has a stake in this beautiful nation and wishes to see her progressing and prospering to greater heights, when you participate in theses processes by electing right leaders in position of leadership to lead this nation you have a better future but if you don’t participate don’t blame any but yourself,” he said.
Byabakama said although many people would see this exercise as a joke, it’s very important in the processes of elections.
“Time is running out for you please don’t miss out on this opportunity because after 11th December doors for people to be registered or to get recorded, changing voting places will be closed, so let us inform our neighbours that it’s our right to vote,” Byabakama said.
On the matter of national Identity card, Byabakama said that people possessing them will also need to be registered in the national voters’ register if not that they will not be allowed to vote although the national Identity card confirms that they are Ugandans.
“National Identity card qualifies someone to be a citizen of Uganda. Therefore they automatically have right to vote, however, they must take an extra step as a citizen with a right, to register in the national voters’ registers that is why this activity is important,” explains Byabakama.
In the same vain, he urged people to see elections as a determinant of having a secured, peaceful country because at the end of it Uganda will still be there and Ugandans will remain as a people God ordained to be in the beautiful country Uganda regardless of the different cultures and tribe.
According to Byabakama, there is only one way, one can contribute to peace in Uganda by becoming a registered voter, participate in all electoral processes and ensure that right leaders are elected in positions that will drive this country forward.
Updating voters’ registered started on November 21 and will end on December 11. The details of learners who were registered under the Learners Project in 2017 and have since attained the age of 18 years will be updated and assigned a polling station within their parish of residence or origin.
Accordingly, such eligible learners will not register afresh but will be required to present themselves at the registration/update centre with their National Identification Number (NIN) to specify their preferred polling stations for purposes of voting.
Registration and transfer of voters from one polling station to another within Uganda will not be conducted after December 11.
Currently, they are only 16,435,415 voters but after the update exercise, the number is expected to increase. The known districts are 135 with 253 counties, 296 constituencies, 2,057 towns, 1,011 perishes, 68,614 villages and 34,236 polling stations.
EC has also cautioned that this exercise is free of charge, nobody is supposed to ask or pay any money.
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