Dokolo, Uganda: I must say that the Electoral Commission has put us in a tight spot because we have just one week for campaigning as of now,” Narrated Harriet Ageno.
Harriet Ageno, commonly known as “Nenidiro,” an aspiring candidate under the NUP party ticket, told the media that she is contesting under the National Unity Platform with the slogan “People Power, Our Power.”
In an exclusive interview with the media earlier this week, Harriet explained that she hails from Apye A village, Apye Parish, Adok Sub-county in Dokolo District.
“I am vying for this position because I have lived here in Dokolo and studied in areas like Apye Primary School, Kwera Sub-county, among others.”
She added, “God gave me the same voice that Cecilia Ogwal had, which means Dokolo will be fully represented in Parliament.”
“I am deeply disappointed with the Independent Electoral Commission, and we regret that EC would have given us only 14 days to campaign. When it comes to by-elections for men, they are given 14 days or more, but how can they give just seven days to women? How shall we cover the two constituencies in Dokolo within a period of one week?
“We have been locked out; saying there are 14 sub-counties in one week, so I must reiterate that the Electoral Commission has put us in a challenging campaign situation.”
She aims to advocate for women and girls if elected to parliament.
“In Dokolo, we don’t have reliable and constant electricity. The electricity we see is intermittent, appearing and disappearing once or twice a month.
So, if elected to the 11th Parliament, for the remaining one year, she will advocate for new developments, including constant electricity, to be experienced in Dokolo.”
She noted that she was shocked one morning around 6:00 AM to find some women in Dokolo town council central ward roasting cassava in total darkness. She was disappointed and feared they could be subject to crime, such as rape, as they operated in darkness.
Harriet Ageno Nenidiro added that she had dreamt of becoming a Member of Parliament one day.
If elected, Ageno believes she has the same voice as that of the late MP Cecilia Ogwal (R.I.P), meaning she is vocal and eloquent enough to debate in Parliament.
One of her priorities is to focus on education for all, regardless of physical ability.
The Independent Electoral Commission has already released the roadmap for the Dokolo Woman MP by-election in Dokolo District on Monday, February 12, 2024.
Justice Simon Byamukama of the EC, while addressing stakeholders, explained the reasons why the campaign period has been reduced to one week only on Monday.
