Voters in Acholi attribute High Turnout to Kabake Radio Programme
The high voters’ turnout in Acholi and Lango sub regions in the Presidential, Parliamentary and Local Government elections has been attributed to the Kabake Community Radio Programme.
According to some of the voters, the programme took up the role of the Electoral Commission (EC), the national electoral body in conducting civic and voter education. This, according to the voters, inspired them to turnout in large number and elect leaders of their choice.
They also praised Kabake Community Radio Programme for drumming up for peace, resulting into peaceful elections in most parts of Acholi and Lango sub regions.
Okwera, a voter in Gulu City said civic education is the work of the Electoral Commission. “I thank Kabake for taking up the role of the Electoral Commission. The programme has greatly opened our eyes. As you are well aware, youth and women form the bulk of voters. So, politicians bribe the two categories with pieces of cloth and alcohol so that they get voted into office,” Okwera noted.
Another voter, Patrick Ogwang said the programme gave the electorates an opportunity to make up their minds and choose leaders who are not selfish. Ogwang said over the years, selfish leaders were lucky to get elected due to lack of information. “We have suffered a lot. We need now need to vote leaders who can lobby for health facility and better education. Those are our priorities. I think it is time to change leadership so that our lives can change for the better,” Ogwang adds.
Henry Komakech Kilama, a practicing advocate said Mega FM has played a great role in helping leaders reach out to voters. Kilama noted that programmes such as Kabake played key role in helping voters make decisions. “Leaders should not see Mega FM as being bias because they were not invited to appear on the radio. Mega FM will not allow anyone who uses vulgar language to appear over the radio. Mega FM is working within the minimum broadcast standards that is why some leaders who use obscene language were not invited to appear on the radio,” Kilama.
The three citizens/voters were panelist during the Kabake Community Radio Programme on January 13, 2021.
Kabake is a pre-recorded program aired on 102 Mega FM, one of the leading radio stations in northern Uganda every Sunday between 10AM and 12noon. Mega FM has partnered with Konrad Adenauer Stiftung to give a platform to communities who are still recovering from the effect of the over two decades Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) led insurgency to discuss issues related to post-war recovery, social justice, health and education, gender-based violence and land rights, among others. But due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the program is broadcast live in the studio with limited number of guests. Participants now contribute through live phone call-ins since large gathering is restricted to control further spread of Coronavirus.
Uganda has registered 32,993 cases of Coronavirus and 230 fatalities since March 2020.
Arthur Owor, the Director African Centre for Research, a thinktank said there is need to do more civic education so that voters get to know why it is important to participate in an election.
Owor said civic education is lacking and there is need to do more to ensure that voters know their right role in the democratic process.
About 50 % of registered voters in Acholi sub region participated in the just concluded general election, according to figures provided the Electoral Commission (EC). This translates into 356,426 voters who turned up and voted on January 14, 2021 in the Parliamentary and Presidential Elections.
Acholi sub region has 701,376 registered voters with Gulu City having the highest number of voters at 103,401 voters followed by Kitgum with 99,234 registered voters. Agago is third with 98,354 registered voters, Amuru (87,122), Pader (82,298), Omoro (72,216) and Nwoya (57,186).
Report written by James Owich.
