Ugandans abroad seek voting rights

Ugandans abroad have asked the government to allow them to vote by empowering someone in the country to vote on their behalf.

"We are requesting the government to follow the example of other countries that allow their citizens abroad to participate in national elections," Abdul Kimbugwe, president of Ugandan North American Association, was quoted by New Vision on Saturday as saying.

They have also requested the government to speed up the implementation of dual citizenship.

According to Kimbugwe, since Article 15 of the Constitution was amended by the seventh Parliament, nothing had been put in place to formalize the acquisition of dual citizenship.

He added that Ugandans abroad were keen on how the country was managed because they invested a lot of money in Uganda's economy.

Ugandans living abroad send home an estimated 800 million U.S. dollars annually, making them one of the main contributors to the country's development.

Kimbugwe was in Uganda for a series of meetings in preparation of the 19th Annual Convention of the Ugandan North American Association to be held in San Francisco from August 30 to September 3.

Source: Xinhua