Moyo residents appeal for electoral reforms for free and fair elections.

By Ganiko Samson Bullen

Moyo

West Nile regional civil society network in partnership with Moyo district NGO forum have organized a district level stakeholders consultative engagement meeting on constitutional, Political and electoral reforms.
 
The meeting was held on 10th May 2023 at Moyo people’s hall involving members of the civil society organizations, politicians, and civil servants, cultural and religious leaders among others.
 
Mr Feni Twaib, the Chief Executive officer (CEO) for   West Nile regional civil society Network while addressing participants said the purpose of the engagement is to identify key challenges that affected previous elections in Uganda but to provide solutions to the said problems. “We are here to discuss matters to do with electoral reforms as citizens, we are happy that this is something that we started long time.
But normally after elections, many people go back to sleep as they await for another time of elections to draw nearer so that they can also start to think of issues of elections,” the CEO said.
        
Fr. George Ezatirale, the curate of Moyo Catholic parish has called for review of the constitutional saying there is a lot of vote bribery by the politicians. He has blamed it on high level of poverty among the local population hence hindering electoral processes in the districts. “Our people always get troubled because of looking for candidates who are capable of providing something for voters to go back with. And If you don’t give, they will believe you are not the rightful candidate to represent them,” according to Fr. Ezatirale.
He has also called for reduction on number of MPs for better service delivery to the local communities looking at the number and the amount of money spend on them.
 
Mr Dravu Michael, the prime Minister of Rendike chiefdom a cultural institution in Moyo district noted that the elections in the country are surrounded with a lot of court cases as he suggested for electronic voting. “On My cultural observation there has been series of court cases whenever there is a general election, there court cases arising from parliamentary election, district chairpersons including local council three chairpersons and direct elected councillors among others,” he remarked. Dravu said there is great need for electronic voting to end the issues of violence and court cases.
 
Mr Iga Polly the forum for democratic change (FDC) party Chairperson Moyo district says there is need for civic education up to the village level.
However, Mr Candiga Ceaser the LC 3 chairperson Moyo town council stressed the need for independent electoral commission in the country. “For us to have unity, we must have an independent electoral commission, Kenya attempted in the region but you saw what is taking place in Kenya there is order between the president and the opposition,” he disclosed     
 
But Anyama William the district chairperson Moyo noted there is conducive environment all the political parties in the district.

COVER PHOTO: Officials during the Meeting By Ganiko Samson Bullen