At 92 years old, Mzee Aloysius Atanga endured the intense heat to participate in the Dokolo District Woman parliamentary by-election on March 21. His vote was cast in favor of a candidate who would advocate for the vulnerable and the elderly.
Assisted by crutches, Atanga, a resident of Acungapenyi Cell, Central Ward in Dokolo Town Council, arrived at the Angwecibange Primary School “B” polling station around 12:30pm.
A Police Constable at the station promptly assisted him, leading him to the officials who verified his identity with a biometric machine and handed him a ballot. Guided to a private area, Atanga marked his ballot and then deposited it into the ballot box.
In contrast to the many voters who did not attend the by-election at the 173 polling stations across Dokolo District, Atanga made it a point to vote, emphasizing the importance of selecting a District Woman Representative who would significantly impact the lives of the most vulnerable, including the elderly.
Post-vote, Atanga expressed confidence in his chosen candidate’s victory and her ability to effectively serve the people of Dokolo.
The by-election took place against a backdrop of significant social challenges in Dokolo, where over 200,000 residents face high poverty and low literacy rates. The National Population and Housing Census of 2014 indicates that 15.7% of males and 45.8% of females over 18 years old are illiterate. Additionally, a small percentage of households have access to televisions, while bicycles remain the primary mode of transportation for many.
The by-election was largely peaceful, marred only by isolated incidents of voter bribery and low turnout. Notably, at the Dokolo Progressive Secondary School polling station, only a fraction of the registered voters had participated by midday.
FDC leader Patrick Oboi Amuriat noted the low voter turnout and the peaceful nature of the voters, while UPC party supervisor and Maruzi County MP Maxwell Akora observed disorganization at many polling stations within Dokolo Town Council.
