By KT Reporter
Candidates vying for various positions under the NRM ticket in Arua City have decried what they call low levels of civic awareness among the electorate.
During the first joint campaigns for Parliamentary Candidates and Mayors, which kicked off in different constituencies on Thursday, the candidates were puzzled after many electorates, speaking in the local Lugbara dialect, asked questions based on personal demands rather than on the core roles of Member of Parliament, such as appropriation, legislation and oversight.
At several venues of the joint campaigns in Arua City, most voters were visibly in dilemma over the roles of an MP, Multi-party dispensation and the NRM elections, while some of them could not distinguish the NRM primary campaigns and those of the general elections.
Bernard Atiku, one of the Parliamentary candidates for the NRM primaries in Arua City, said based on their experience on the first day, it’s clear that the level of civic awareness among the electorate requires urgent intervention.
Phiona Onzima, an aspirant for MP in Arua City, says most of the electorate cannot distinguish between social corporate responsibility and the constitutional roles of a Member of Parliament, a situation she says requires adequate sensitisation.
However, John Lematia, the incumbent MP for Ayivu West in Arua City, who is also seeking re-election, said due to the high levels of illiteracy among most electorates, there is a need for all stakeholders to take up the task of sensitising and educating voters on their civic roles-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
