Fred Kiva
09:46

Hoima Voters Demand More Civics Education

16 Feb 2011, 11:17 1449 Views Hoima, Uganda Election Report
Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 With just less than 48-hours to Friday's polls, voters in Hoima are demanding for civic education. Many say they are not ready for the polls due to lack of civic education. They are faulting the Electoral Commission for failing to implement proper civic education programmes. Joshua Kasangaki, the Kibingo LC 1 chairman, says there have been gaps in civic opportunities and engagement, adding that not a single civic education session was conducted in his area, despite the fact that most of the people in his area are first time voters. Kasangaki wants the Electoral Commission to use the remaining days to sensitize voters. The voters admit that they are bound to make mistakes at the polling stations, due to the fact that there was not enough sensitization about the election process. Joseph Isingoma Kirifoda, the Chairman Hoima Voice of Older Persons Association, says he has received numerous questions from the elderly, regarding their polling stations and who the candidates are. //Cue in.. "civil education..." Cue out.. "what is going on.."// Collin W'obusobozi, a voter from Buhimba Sub County wonders whether money for voter education was paid to some people. He demands that this money should be returned because there was no civic education programme implemented. Peter Mayanja, the Kiryatete East Local council one chairman, says let alone lack of voter education, the transfer of voter's names to different polling stations is likely to affect the polling exercise. Mayanja says some voters have their names in registers of polling stations where they were not registered. He says that informed and active participation of the voters in Friday's election has already been bloated by the lack of civic education. //Cue in: "Most of the people..." Cue out... Enough civic education.."// Erasmus Kimbowa, Hoima district Registrar, has not commented on the matter as he was out of office when our reporter visited his office.

 

Tagged with: voters elections poll education electoral commission

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Fred Kiva