BVVK Operators Protest Exclusion from Rukungiri Local Council Elections

Rukungiri: A group of BVVK operators in Rukungiri District have staged a demonstration at the district headquarters after being informed at the last minute that they would not be deployed at polling stations for the ongoing Local Council elections.

The operators, who had been trained to operate Biometric Voter Verification Kits (BVVK), said the sudden decision left them frustrated, financially strained, and disappointed after preparing for the exercise.

Speaking during the protest on January 22, Kamanzi Justus, a BVVK operator attached to Kitazigurukwa Primary School, said the operators underwent five days of training at their own cost.

“We spent more than two hundred thousand shillings on transport during training. We sacrificed our time and jobs, only to be told a day before elections that we are no longer needed,” Kamanzi said.

Another operator, Gift Ainembabazi Gift, from Rwakabengo Health Center III, said many operators left their families and workplaces with hope of serving the government, but are now uncertain about their compensation.

“We want to know if we will be paid for the training days. Some of us stopped working elsewhere because we were selected for this role,” she said.

Cue in….. Justus and Gift…RR

The operators further expressed anger, saying they were now speechless after investing time and money, only to be sidelined while BVVK operators in other districts continued working.

Cue in….on frustrations…RR

The situation later calmed after the incumbent Rukungiri District LC5 Chairperson, Geoffrey Kyomukama, arrived and engaged the demonstrators. Kyomukama contacted the District Returning Officer, Namara K. Abas, seeking clarification on the matter and urged the operators to remain hopeful, assuring them that government had plans for them.

Cue in…..Kyomukama…..RR

Later, addressing the operators at the Rukungiri Electoral Commission offices, Returning Officer Namara K. Abas assured them that their appointment was still valid and that payment for the training days was guaranteed.

“You are still appointed BVVK operators. Even if you were not used in this election, your training allowance will be paid,” Abas said.

Cue in….Abas responding…RR

Abas explained that the decision not to deploy BVVK operators was made to avoid overcrowding at polling stations, noting that each polling station already had a full team in place.

The BVVK machines were earlier expected to be used during the January 15 presidential and parliamentary elections, but technical failures forced the Electoral Commission to revert to using the voter register. The machines have again not been used in the Local Council elections, prompting today’s demonstration.

Despite the disappointment, the operators dispersed peacefully after being assured of payment and possible deployment in future elections.