Despite efforts to modernise, Uganda is yet to fully adapt to electoral technologies.
All aspects of the electoral process, including communications, verification, and the exercise itself, can be secured and made accountable with technology.
As the government slowly adopts electoral technology, innovators are developing products and services that, if adapted by authorities, could redefine how the population engages in the process.
With the country now in the thick of the campaign period, Events Gallery innovator and architect Zakaria Mukasa Kyeyune said in an interview week that his app prescribes a solution for campaign violence, malice, and misinformation.
‘We are eliminating situations that could lead to disruptions, violence, and even littering during the electioneering period,’ says the innovator, also known as Haji Salongo
He continues: ‘You will be able to know what, where and when everything pertaining to the candidates participating in the election across all the levels is.’
Because it is election period, this is just one of the menus that the app innovation offers, by the innovator who is not just a tech enthusiast but also a professional architect.
If you are a candidate, through the app you can digitally reach out to an audience at any time with your programme and messages, eliminating inconveniences that comes with electoral violence and misinformation during the electioneering period.
‘We bring the candidates to somebody’s hands as opposed to somebody going out for the candidates.
Especially for busy people at work and therefore cannot afford to physically attend campaigns or our people working and living in diaspora this innovation addresses your concern.’
Motivation
We wanted to make it easier for people to navigate events in the most convenient way. And now that we are in the digital era, all you need in gallery of events to select from just like you would do in an art gallery or a shop.
On collaboration and partnership
This is a technology that we wouldn’t mind collaborating or partnering with whoever wishes to work with us. It has value that several sectors both in the public and private sector can immensely benefit from.
‘Can you imagine the value that political parties or electoral agencies wanting peaceful campaigns or clean electoral exercise can extract from this product?’
Or even can you imagine a collaboration with the Nation Media Group the kind of impact we will generate for the better.
‘So, we don’t mind partnerships with anybody or any agencies for as long as we are positively changing or impacting society by way of fostering peaceful democratic processes devoid of voter bribery and violence,’ says Haji Salongo.
Controls
Because we care about the country and the community, the app has controls that ensure sanity prevails.
‘Only registered people can post information and messages. And even when you post it doesn’t go to everyone but the targeted audience. And even then, the administrator will be mindful of foul languages and related insanity.
The administrator ensures community rules which are a set of guidelines and a code of conduct that define acceptable behaviours and content for members of an online community are strictly observed.
‘Once all the boxes are ticked the administrator clicks the button and everyone who is supposed to see your message will see it as you intended it.
‘Note that only two people can alter or edit your message – first is you the person who sends and the second person is the administrator. And that’s all.’
So, for the case of the candidate, you can post all sort of information for as long as it doesn’t offend the community rules. And so are other events.
The app is also interactive. You get to see your messages instantly and can engage with your audience.
Future
For now, because we are in the political season, it may seem like we are all about the election. The app does more than that – it’s actually a gallery of events.
With the population increasingly having access to phones it means more Ugandans are going digitally.
‘Almost 12 million people have smartphones. So, this is why we believe information can be brought to people’s hands via mobile phone rather than people chasing after it,’ he says in interview last week on Thursday.
He continued: ‘So far this is the biggest app in the country, if not in the region. We haven’t seen something like this around the continent yet
The architect and the innovator
Who is this guy? He quipped, when asked if there is any other thing he wishes to say.
‘I’m an architect by profession. It’s my talent and love. This is because I like solving problems. And because of that I can also describe myself as an innovator.
‘My father, Haji Abbas Kazibwe Musisi was an innovator all through his life. His m