Mbale City, Uganda: The Bamasaaba community in Mbale has petitioned the cultural institution of the Bamasaaba, Bukuka, to take a central role in promoting civic education and voter awareness ahead of Uganda’s General Elections, which are about 180 days away.
During a dissemination workshop convened by the Bugisu NGO Forum to release findings on governance in the Bugisu region, hundreds of participants urged Bukuka to spearhead efforts to mobilise and educate voters across Masaabaland.
Steven Masiga, spokesperson for the Bamasaaba cultural institution, who represented Bukuka and served as the lead respondent, pledged to relay the community’s demands to His Highness the Umukuka and the Bukuka Cabinet for consideration and action.
“The survey has confirmed that voter education in Masaabaland is at its lowest,” Masiga said. “As a cultural institution, we are mandated to remain neutral and non-partisan. That is why Bukuka is best placed to lead civic and voter education since we lean on all Bamasaaba regardless of their political persuasions.”
Masiga noted that in other countries, including parts of Latin America, voting is enforced by penalties, and in some cases, citizens must pay a fee if they choose not to participate in elections. “I have witnessed times when unused voter materials go to waste,” he added.
The Bugisu NGO Forum Chairperson, Mr. Moses Egunyu, and Program Officer, Mr. Mafabi, said the engagements would be sustained over the next five years as part of broader efforts to strengthen governance and accountability in the region.
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