AMOS K
Leaders from Ntungamo district have continued to encourage eligible residents to participate in the ongoing government program for voter register updates, emphasizing the benefits it will bring on voting days.
In conversations with some district leaders, it was noted that in certain parishes where the registers have already been distributed, the turnout has been disappointing, with few residents showing up.
Amanya Ivan Rwanyakibare, the LC3 chairperson for Rugaraama North Sub-county, mentioned that the turnout in his area is still low. He attributed this to a lack of sufficient on-the-ground sensitization and mobilization among the residents.
He added that although the Electoral Commission has been airing advertisements on radio, television, and other platforms, the local population often struggles to access these mediums due to financial constraints, making on-the-ground efforts crucial for effective engagement.
Furthermore, Rwanyakibare explained that even for those with access to radios and televisions, many residents show little interest in voting, perceiving it as pointless.
He urged such individuals to recognize that voting is their right, allowing them to choose their preferred leaders. He also called on fellow leaders to ramp up on-the-ground mobilization efforts to ensure a greater turnout for the voter register update.
Similarly, Coleb Tindimwebwa, the LC3 chairperson for Rubaare Sub-county, confirmed that although the voter register update exercise began three days ago, only a few people have shown up at their designated locations. He cited several reasons for the low turnout, including the small number of personnel assigned to the task—sometimes just one or two people per parish—and the residents’ fear of congestion at the update locations. However, he remains hopeful for a higher turnout in the coming day
Tindimwebwa also encouraged residents to visit their designated locations for the update, stressing that this process is not only for updating the register but also for including new voters, changing polling stations, and correcting any omissions in the current register.
