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Features

Mobile vans spreading information on elections

• Short Messaging Services (SMS) education campaigns and enhance visibility
Data on telephone contacts for and awareness of the respective electoral
stakeholders in the Districts was compiled to activities.
facilitate dissemination of voter education
messages through telephones. The targeted • Monitoring and Supervision
stakeholders include elected leaders at various Commission staff actively participates in
levels, civil servants, leaders of political parties monitoring and supervision of various electoral
and organizations, heads of educational activities. They ensure that the Commission’s
institutions, leaders of religious groups, civil stakeholder engagement and voter education
society organisations, business communities, strategy is effectively implemented.
and leaders of Special Interest Groups
(Women, Youth, Older Persons, Workers, Conclusion and Way Forward
Persons with Disabilities) and the media. Through collaborated efforts and partnerships in
Through this medium, the Commission reaches promoting continuous sensitization and awareness
out to telephone subscribers across the creation on democratic principles, there is hope
various mobile telecommunication networks for increased participation, transparency and
in the country. These messages trickle down accountability to the people. Candidates will learn
to families, workmates and other groups in to concede defeat thereby minimizing post-electoral
society hence the multiplier effect. According violence and suffering. There will be tolerance and
to Uganda Bureau of Standards over 74% peaceful co-existence and thus progress in the
of Ugandans are subscribers on telephone social, economic and political sectors. Continuous
networks. sensitisation will minimise commercialization of
politics and corruption, which will translate into
• Use of Mobile Vans accelerated democratic development and prosperity
Branded vehicles are hired from of the country at large.
specialised service providers and are deployed
countrywide to support and complement voter Justice Byabakama Mugenyi Simon
Chairperson, Electoral Commission, Uganda

October 2022 | VoICE International | 23