“WE SHALL NOT VOTE IN 2026,” RESIDENTS OF ARUA DISTRICT THREATEN

Edema Robert, the chairperson LC 1 Ambala village during the engagement. Photo by Godwin Abedican

By Godwin Abedican

Arua
The community of Ambala village in Vurra sub county Arua district are threatening not to vote during the 2026 General elections on grounds of being neglected in service delivery.

While raising their concerns during a community engagement organized by Community Empowerment for Rural Development CEFORD, on Thursday October 17, 2024, held at Ambala church of Uganda Eruba Parish Vurra sub county, the community members said ever since the 2021 general elections were held, they haven’t seen any of their elected leaders surfacing to follow and implement the manifestos presented to them.

Eyotre Felix Moses, a VHT in the area says that, from the look of things the district has failed to get competent political leaders and hence no need to vote in the upcoming elections

“The reason I am saying I am tired of these people and the issues of elections is that, since u started working from 2014 till now, I have never seen any project not even provision of clean water to the people. We have so far voted for so many people, but they have all done nothing up to now.  Quarterly, I summarize and give reports to these people. On all the issues presented, there is nothing like response. So, as a person I feel I cannot vote because I am always wasting my vote for nothing,” he expressed his anger while speaking during the engagement.

According to Mungufeni Esau, the youth leader of Ambala village as the youth they are going to play a key role of ensuring that they mobilize against the re-election of non-performing leaders.

“Our people saying they are not going to vote again is because they are not seeing any development. The leaders whom we elected came and made a lot of empty promises but nothing has been done. In this community. Being the youth chairperson, we shall engage among ourselves and ensure if we are to vote we get someone who can really care and look back to his people,” he said.

Edema Robert, the chairperson LC 1 Ambala village on his part says the people are right to raise complaints over service delivery since the leaders are not performing their roles.

“They are planning so because the leaders are not solving their problems. They need good leaders who can listen to their cries. I don’t think they will not vote. But if they chose not to vote, there is nothing I can do because I cannot vote on their behalf”, he explained.

However, Hon. Candini Luiji the secretary for human capital development in Arua district while responding on behalf of the political leaders in regards to the same during the engagement advises that instead of shunning the elections, the community should rather identify better leaders to replace the non-performing ones.

“Voting is a fundamental right of an individual. You vote for a person of your choice. Leaders are supposed to be the ones to mobilize the community to access services. So, if those leaders are not mobilizing or sharing information about upcoming developmental programs of the government to their voters, then that is not a leader.  I want to appeal that, they should rather choose to vote out such leaders, than sacrificing their rights to participate in elections,” Candini called.

Politically elected leaders have role such as policy formulation, oversight roles, and mobilization of community to access services among others.

Ambala village has a total population of 1,385 residents currently according to the LC 1 and VHT records.