By Frank Kamuntu
Mpigi — The Manager of the Office of the National Chairman (ONC), Hajjat Hadijah Namyalo, has this afternoon stormed Katonga in Mpigi District as part of an ongoing voter education campaign aimed at reducing invalid votes and strengthening grassroots participation ahead of the polls.
The mobilisation, held near the refurbished Katonga Bridge along the Masaka–Mbarara highway, attracted thousands of National Resistance Movement (NRM) supporters and local leaders, including Mpigi District NRM Woman MP flag bearer Harriet Mbabazi and district LCV flag bearer Kyeyune David, among others.
The engagement was conducted under the “Katonga Zukuka” campaign, an initiative that focused on voter education, particularly on proper voting procedures. The drive targets young voters, popularly referred to as bazzukulu, and seeks to ensure that supporters cast valid votes on polling day.
Addressing the gathering, Namyalo emphasized the importance of correct voting, urging supporters to carefully follow ballot instructions on Election Day.
“On January 15th, I urge all of you to vote rightly by ticking in the box provided on the ballot paper. Do not tick or thumbprint on the photo of the candidate or on the party symbol,” Namyalo said, stressing that a simple mistake can render a vote invalid.
She noted that during the 2021 elections, many votes cast in favour of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni were invalidated due to improper marking of ballot papers.
“Many Ugandans voted for the President, but a number of those votes were invalid because of wrong voting. That is why voter education is critical, and that is why ONC is already working from the grassroots to protect and safeguard every valid vote,” she said.
Namyalo added that the vote protection and voter education exercise is being implemented following guidance from President Museveni himself, with structures already deployed at various levels, grass roots to ensure that voters understand the process and that their votes are protected.
Beyond voter education, Namyalo also used the platform to reflect on the historical significance of Katonga, paying tribute to those who sacrificed their lives in 1986 to liberate the country from past regimes.
“These people and their families paid a heavy price to rescue this country from bad leadership. They deserve respect, dignity and protection,” she said.
She strongly warned against land grabbing in Katonga and surrounding areas, stating that residents should not be intimidated or unlawfully evicted from their land.
“No one should play on your heads by evicting you or stealing your land. This area sacrificed a lot for the liberation of Uganda, and its people must be respected,” Namyalo said.
During the interaction, several residents raised concerns that although President Museveni has on various occasions pledged support to communities in Katonga as recognition of their sacrifice, they have not fully benefited, alleging that intermediaries often divert the assistance meant for them.
Namyalo assured them that their concerns would be documented and followed up through the relevant channels.
The meeting also highlighted broader social challenges in the community. A group of women engaged in sex work approached Namyalo, appealing to government for support and empowerment to enable them access alternative livelihoods.
They requested capital and skills support to help them exit what they described as a degrading trade driven by poverty.
The Katonga engagement follows the launch of the Tikinga Bus Drive a day earlier in Kagoma North Constituency, Jinja District. These campaigns are expected to continue across different parts of the country as the NRM intensifies voter education efforts ahead of the elections.
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