Former Daily Monitor journalist Isaac Imaka has renewed calls for electoral reforms and comprehensive voter education following the recently concluded elections, citing low turnout and growing public disillusionment with both the voting process and the role of Members of Parliament.
Speaking during the NBS Media Roundtable on Friday, Imaka reflected on his participation in the Jinja North elections, thanking voters despite losing the race.
“I’m just fresh from the elections. Although it went the other way, I want to say a huge thanks to the people of Jinja North,” Imaka said.
He said voter turnout in the constituency was markedly low, attributing the trend to declining confidence in the electoral system and uncertainty about the relevance of parliamentary representation.
“Voter turnout was very low because people somehow lost trust in the process but also in the role of an MP. People no longer know why they vote for MPs,” he said.
Imaka questioned the sustainability of elections conducted in an environment where public trust continues to diminish, placing responsibility on the Electoral Commission to restore credibility.
“Would you go back to a system that people don’t trust?” he asked.
He urged the commission to adopt a proactive and long-term approach to civic engagement, arguing that voter education should not be limited to election periods.
“The EC needs to start doing voter education five years to the next election. Our people need to regain confidence in the EC,” Imaka said.
Imaka’s remarks come amid broader national debate over voter apathy, the effectiveness of electoral institutions and the need to rebuild public confidence in democratic processes.
