EC concerned about PWDs participation in 2026 General Election.
MBARARA: The Electoral Commission Chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama Mugenyi has acknowledged that the absence of critical data for legible PWDs voters from the National Union of Disabled Persons of Uganda has crippled the inclusivity of the electoral process in the country.
This was conveyed in his message read by the acting Secretary electoral commission Richard Baabo Kamugisha on Friday during the regional stakeholders’ workshop held at Hotel Triangle Mbarara for the South West Region.
During the workshop held in preparation for the General Update of the National Voters Register slated for 20th Jan – 10th Feb 2025, Byabakama said that though the law provides a chance of having trusted aides some have been denied their rights.
He further revealed that instructions were not being provided in a format that is accessible to help people with visual impairments or blindness to choose the candidates of their choice.
Kamugisha stressed that the electoral commission had planned to use Braille or big fonts of documents for visually impaired voters but they were not capable of securing data detailing the exact number of eligible Pwd voters for special arrangements.
He also challenged politicians to stop commercialized politics, inter and infra party rivalry saying that it has triggered violence and enmity in the face of victory.
CUE IN… KAMUGISHA ON PARTIES. RR.
Robert Beine the Regional Election Officer appealed to the general public to fully join in the forthcoming update exercise in fostering exclusivity, and credible elections.
Beine also called upon all students to turn up and register before the opening of the schools and emphasized that transfer shall only be done during this update exercise.
The update exercise will include registration of voters, transfer, minor corrections, assignment of polling stations and include new revised registers for special interest groups.
