GATSIBO/NYAGATARE - The National Electoral Commission (NEC) is urging local leaders to sensitise residents on the importance of elections in order to record a high turnout in the forth-coming Presidential polls.

NEC chairman, Prof. Chrysologue Karangwa, made the call on Monday while meeting local leaders from Gatsibo and Nyagatare districts on the preparations of the August election.

‘Democracy is a government of the people… but everyone cannot lead, that’s why every citizen decides to sit down, think and choose one shepherd who can lead him towards development,’ he said. 

Commenting on scores of residents who have, until today, not received their voters’ cards, Karangwa urged the local leaders to establish the exact number of residents without cards. 

‘This has become a serious problem to the electoral body…we have released lists of eligible voters but you still discover more residents missing voters’ cards. This is mainly attributed to local leaders who tally the number of their residents well,’ he said. 

Prof. Karangwa, advised participants, who included election coordinators from all local levels, to encourage residents of voting age to register. 

In his remarks, Nyagatare District Mayor, Fred Atuhe Sabiti, said the district would work with local leaders from the grassroots level to ensure that all eligible voters acquire voting cards.

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