By Mulengera Reporters
In a YouTube online interview with journalist Sendegeya, Busiro East MP Medard Lubega Segona (who is also among the most senior & respected legislators in the 11th Parliament) urged Ugandans, especially his fellow Baganda, to take advantage of the newly extended voter register update exercise (running up to next Monday) to make sure they are eligible to determine who governs them via the 2026 general elections.
Segona, at lenght, explained that there are Ugandans who are sick and tired of the political status quo at the different levels of leadership, and others who are satisfied and would like to see continuity.
He further elaborated that whatever it is that one would like to see (change or continuity), participating in the electoral process is the only lawfully available avenue through which they can make their voices heard and be of impact.
“In the case of Busiro East, where I will be seeking reelection [for 4th term], there are those who want me to continue because I have been an effective MP and those who prefer someone else, which is their right. Whatever the case, taking advantage of the ongoing voters register update is the only way each one of those people can make their voices heard and participate in the decision-making regarding how they would like to be governed,” Segona said making it clear that the same applies for elected leadership at all the other levels of governance in Uganda.
He said that his message was more specifically directed at voters in his native Buganda region, whose voice (he said) can only be unambiguously heard if all voting-age citizens get registered to become eligible voters or take advantage of the ongoing exercise by the EC to get transfered to the respective polling stations (in native or residence parishes) of one’s own choice.
“It’s true that our region Buganda has the highest number of people when compared to other regions of Uganda. But for us to be able translate that numeric strength into effective service delivery and representation in government, we must all become registered voters which is the only way we can participate in the forthcoming general elections of 2026,” Segona counselled.
He implored fellow leaders to use every platform they have or get to mobilise and call on their people and electorates to enthusiastically take advantage of the additional seven days the EC has granted to get themselves eligible to participate in the much-anticipated 2026 elections.
Going by his performance in Parliament and the media attention he attracts wherever he goes, plus the percentage with which he secured reelection in 2026, it’s an undisputable fact that Medard Segona is among contemporary Uganda’s most influential Members of Parliament.
BYABAKAMA ASSURES:
In a related development, the EC Chairman Simon Byabakama says that the electoral body he heads is more than prepared to deliver an inclusive, credible, free & fair electoral process in 2026-whether Parliament enacts and delivers any electoral reforms or not.
“Let no body worry about the legal framework. As EC, we don’t make the law. We only operationalise whatever is given to us by Parliament. Under the current legal framework, we are the same electoral commission which delivered the 2021 electoral process, which was a credible election in as far as we are concerned. If there are to be any electoral reforms which are given to us, we shall work with it and it’s our prayer that this is done on good time because there can be disruptions if it gets too late before such reforms are processed and communicated to us.”
Byabakama made this clarification during the Monday news conference at the EC headquarters in Kampala (along 7th Street), in response to a journalist who demanded to know whether it was possible for the forthcoming elections to be free and fair and the type that can be accepted as credible by majority Ugandans, without any electoral reforms being enacted.
The EC chief also thanked Ugandans for the enthusiasm they have so far exhibited towards all the 2026 elections road map activities thus far. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
