Pallisa, Uganda: Governance and Accountability Inter-District SCO Network (GAIN-Uganda), a nonprofit organisation, has rolled out a voter education and election monitoring programme ahead of the 2026 General Elections, entering its third day of district-level trainings across Eastern Uganda.
The exercise, supported by Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS), a German international organisation, began in Pallisa on Monday before extending to Butebo District and Mbale City on Tuesday and Wednesday.
GAIN-Uganda coordinator Samson Okurut said the Electoral Commission recommended the organisation to undertake the programme, which focuses on strengthening civic awareness and improving voter participation.
“We are going to cover 48 districts, but for now, we start with 13, then extend to the others. The reason for this training is to equip selected individuals with knowledge to conduct monitoring, observation and voter education, which is key to free and fair elections,” Okurut said.
He stressed the importance of participation in the electoral process: “People should take elections seriously. If they don’t vote, others will decide for them, and they will spend five years lamenting over poor services.”
Lead facilitator Okello Martin said inadequate civic awareness remains a major barrier to credible elections in Uganda. He noted that 40% of registered voters did not participate in the previous general elections, a trend he said undermines democratic choice.
“The worst people who don’t consider elections are the educated. They guide others on whom to vote, but they themselves sit back,” Okello said.
Butebo District Chairperson Hon. Okurut James urged the Electoral Commission to elevate civic and voter education as a core pillar of the election process. “Preparing for elections when voters lack information is like setting an examination for learners who have not been taught.” He added that leaving voter education to political candidates creates a gap:
“The role of the Electoral Commission is being done by candidates who only show voters symbols on the ballot. Turning up to vote is the real utilization of one’s right.”
Community Voices: Money Politics and Voter Apathy
In Mbale, residents echoed concerns about the weakening culture of civic responsibility.
Sharon Nambozo from North Division said the lack of strong voter education has created dependency on candidates. “People run to rallies because of the UGX 1,000 they receive. These same people refuse to vote unless transported by the candidate they took the money from,” she said.
Ibrahim Kalire of Nakaloke lauded GAIN-Uganda for stepping in: “Training observers, monitors and voter educators will increase the number of people who actually go to polling stations to vote.”
The trainings will continue across Eastern and Northern Uganda as GAIN-Uganda prepares communities for what it says must be a better-informed, higher-turnout 2026 election.
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