BY JOEL KAGUTA
Lack of access to electricity has slowed the exercise of the General Update of the National Voters’ Register in Mahango Sub-county, Bukonzo County East in Kasese district.
Uganda’s Independent Electoral Commission started the General Update of the National Voters’ Register for people aged 18 years and above to update their particulars.
The same exercise that started on January 20th and is expected to end on February 10th will see those wishing to transfer their particulars doing so.
However, concerned residents from Mahango sub-county have testified that the activity has encountered a number of hiccups as far as technology us concerned.
Raudia Kabugho Bituhura, the Mahango Sub-county FDC Chairperson told Messiah Radio that as of today, the computer had only worked on seven people in Nyamisule Parish.
The outspoken Sub-county FDC Chairperson also explained that the Electoral Commission workers were forced to shift from Kibati trading center where they were supposed to be stationed to Buthale health center II due to lack of power access at the trading center.
According to Bituhura, the computer’s batteries ran out of power forcing the Electoral Commission staff to shift to the health centre where a solar system is installed.
Mahango sub-county has four parishes including Mahango, Nyamisule, Matere and Kyabwenge. Bituhura is therefore skeptical whether all the parishes would be served within the stipulated period of time.
Messiah Radio could not independently verify Bituhura’s the assertions since an effort to get a comment from Mr. Alfred Baluku, the Sub-county Electoral Supervisor was futile by press time since his known cell phone number was not available.
Mahango Sub-county is not the only place that has registered related challenges.
Mr. Ronald Bwambale Kabuku, the Kasese District FDC Chairperson says his office has received similar complaints.
Kabuku adds that they intend to write a formal complaint to the District Returning Officer for redress.
Speaking to the press, Mr. Ismail Atwijukire Takih, the Kasese District Returning Officer acknowledged some technical challenges encountered by the commission’s employees who are conducting the exercise.
Atwijukire mentioned that his office had received technical complaints in Mpondwe Lhubiriha Town Council, Karambi and Kitholhu sub-counties.
He says amidst such challenges challenges; the exercise that is being conducted by trained personnel on a free of charge basis is going on smoothly.
According to him, more than 1,338 people across the district have so far successfully transferred their particulars.
He has since appealed to the residents to turn-up in big numbers to update their particulars, saying the Electoral Commission has not planned to extend the exercise.
However, Bituhura and Kabuku requested the Electoral Commission to reverse their decision and extend the period of conducting the exercise so that all the targeted population is worked upon.
ENDS