Mbale City, Uganda: A new survey conducted by the Bugisu NGO Forum and its partners has revealed that the Bamasaaba community ranks lowest in voter literacy across Uganda, highlighting a significant gap in civic education compared to other regions.
Reacting to the findings earlier this week, the spokesperson of the Bamasaaba cultural institution, Mr. Steven Masiga, welcomed the report, describing it as an opportunity to address voter apathy in Masaabaland.
“Among the Bamasaaba, when a visitor comes to your home, you first welcome them before greeting them. We welcome this report as a cultural institution. I receive the findings on behalf of Bukuka, which I represent here,” Masiga said.
He added that the institution will formally request the Electoral Commission to involve cultural structures in voter education initiatives to improve turnout in the forthcoming elections.
“I am indeed in agreement with the findings. Bukuka is the uniting voice of all Bamasaaba, and once we mobilize our people to vote for candidates of their choice, this will raise voter turnout unlike before,” Masiga noted.
Masiga explained that cultural institutions have a duty to mobilize communities to participate in government programmes, including civic and voter education.
“We shall work closely with the Electoral Commission to ensure Bamasaaba have sufficient knowledge about voter education. All government institutions must and should involve cultural institutions in their programmes. If we are left out, we shall not force ourselves on you, but I must warn,” he said.
He commended the Judiciary, Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Tourism, the Uganda AIDS Commission, the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, and UNDP for collaborating with Bukuka on other development interventions.
Masiga further pledged that the institution would leverage all available media platforms to disseminate credible voter information.
He also revealed he is currently the acting chairperson of all spokespersons of cultural and traditional institutions in Uganda, pledging to share any useful information with fellow cultural leaders.
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