2021 election: EC urged to intensify voter education
The Uganda Human Rights Commission(UHRC) has asked the Electoral Commission to intensify on voter education especially in the context of the Covid-19 lockdown.
While speaking to media in Kampala, Dr. Katebalirwa Amooti Irumba, the acting chairman of the commission, argued that intensified voter education will boost voter confidence and bring about political participation by youth and other Ugandans.
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He said the EC and other accredited bodies should ensure that voter education is delivered in a format which is also accessible to the people with disabilities.
"The Electoral Commission has been strongly urged to intensify and also maintain voter education by among other measures widely disseminating the new electoral procedures to be followed in the context of Covid-19 pandemic,"he said.
He said it is necessary to scrap the Over The Tax (OTT) in the wake of digital campaigns where the public is using social media platforms to reach the electorate.
"Government has been urged to consider urgently the possibility and feasibility of amending the appropriate law in order to temporarily suspend payment of the Over The Tax (OTT) tax during the electoral period in order to make the internet more affordable and accessible,"he said
Katebalirwa said government should expand the internet network and engage the telecommunication service providers to review the high costs of internet in Uganda in order to make it affordable for majority of citizens.
