Debating Diaspora Voting Rights: Perspectives and Considerations

Experts in international relations have urged the government to grant the people in the diaspora their full democratic right of voting. According to Former Diplomat and Ambassador Jack Wamai Wamanga, political parties like NRM and the National Unity Platform benefit from the diaspora through funding and political support, thus the need to pay back by granting members their freedom to vote just like how other countries do it.

The need for the government to spread the gospel of a conducive environment for investors as well as rubbishing the propaganda spread by some ardent opposition people in the diaspora compels the president to resort to support in the diaspora.

Former Presidential Candidate Abed Bwanika asserts that the sitting government is reluctant to grant the diaspora voting rights because of being largely in opposition, an argument that the former ambassador Edith Ssempala agrees with.