KASSANDA: Kassanda District Chairman Kasirye Fred Zzimula, has urged the government not to allow the foreigners who have just arrived in Kassanda to participate in the ongoing update of the national voters’ register.
The Electoral Commission (EC) launched the nationwide exercise on January 20, scheduled to run until February 10, 2025.
The exercise aims to allow eligible voters to update their details or register ahead of the 2026 general elections.
However, the process has been marred by low turnout since its inception. During an oversight visit to some of the registration centres in Kassanda, Zzimula expressed concern about the minimal public participation, with many centres reportedly empty or hosting only one or two individuals updating their details.
Speaking to the Mubende Post, Zzimula suggested that the government should not allow the foreigners who entered Kassanda in for Gold and green pastures without clear processes and now look like Ugandan citizens so they should not get a chance to participate in coming General elections.
“I want to ask the Electoral Commission to engage the district leaders to identify their citizens because I know, there’s those that are going to register for their first time and may include people from neighborhoods for instance Burundi and Rwanda, those people came to kasanda and they are many in areas of Bukuya where there’s Gold mines. so they should not be allowed to register because their arrival is not registered with the customs department of Uganda,” Zzimula said.
The Electoral Commission has faced criticism over the low turnout, with some attributing the poor participation to insufficient sensitization about the exercise.
Observers have called for intensified public awareness campaigns to encourage more citizens to participate in updating their voter details.
Kasirye’s call adds to the growing debate about how best to ensure all eligible voters are prepared for the 2021 polls
