Kanungu, Uganda – Celebrated Legal Drafter and Counsel Esther Majambere has sounded the alarm on Uganda’s declining voter turnout, urging the Electoral Commission and stakeholders to intensify voter education campaigns ahead of the 2026 general elections.
Majambere, also a Kanungu District Woman MP aspirant, expressed concern over the steady decline in voter participation, citing statistics that show a drop from 72.9% in 1996 to 57% in 2021.
“It is a constitutional right for every citizen to vote and participate in elections. Voting is how citizens exercise their power in a democracy. However, statistics show a worrying decline in voter turnout year after year,” Majambere noted.
She attributed low participation to voter fatigue and growing disillusionment among the electorate, in addition to discouraging statements like “whether you vote or not, a candidate will win,” which she stated damages people’s perception that their vote doesn’t matter.
The aspiring legislator added that many voters focus solely on casting votes for presidency and MP seats, ignoring local government elections due to a lack of understanding of the magnitude these levels of seats hold.
“People are being demotivated to engage in electoral processes by discouraging statements like ‘whether you vote or not, the president or any candidate will still win,’ which are damaging. People end up staying home thinking their vote doesn’t matter. We must strongly discourage such narratives and now our main emphasis should be on robust civic education to help citizens understand the value of their vote at all levels,” said Esther Majambere.
According to Electoral Commission data, the 2021 general elections saw only 11 million out of 18 million registered voters cast their ballots, a turnout of just 57%.
This marks a drop from 63% in 2016, 59.9% in 2011, and 69.19% in 2006, with the highest turnout recorded in 1996 at 72.9%.