The Assistant Resident City Commissioner (RCC) for Kampala, Bruhan Byaruhanga, has urged the government to declare a public holiday to enable Ugandans 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, Byaruhanga 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 Nile Post, Byaruhanga suggested that the government declare one of the days within the exercise period a public holiday to give busy citizens a chance to participate without work-related constraints.
“I want to ask the Electoral Commission to engage the Ministry of Public Service to have one of these days declared a public holiday so that people can have time to update their details without excuses,” Byaruhanga said.
“When people know it’s a public holiday, they are not under pressure to meet work obligations. This would allow both employers and employees to dedicate time to this important exercise,” he added.
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.
Byaruhanga’s call for a public holiday adds to the growing debate about how best to ensure all eligible voters are prepared for the 2021 polls.
