Uganda’s ruling party develops software for virtual campaigns ahead of 2021 elections

The ruling National Resistance Movement political party has developed a software application to stream virtual political campaigns after the Electoral Commission banned political rallies and recommended media as the only platforms for campaigns following an outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic early this year.
On behalf of NRM, Afrosoft has developed an app to streamline the virtual campaigns ahead of the 2021 elections. The app was developed ahead of the forth coming scientific elections to protect the masses from coronavirus pandemic.

“As innovators, we gauged the coming situation of scientific elections. We looked at how political leaders would get in touch with their voters and communities. How best could it be done to streamline access of information between the candidates and the voters. And for both to also have access to information about the Party, who is contesting, from which constituency and how to contact those leaders,” Afrosoft Technology’s CEO and Founder, Ronald Katamba, says.
“Therefore, the situation analysis propelled us to also come up with an online television which is already working and can be accessed through all social media platforms. NRM candidates can use the app to talk to the people in real-time – streaming live on all social media platforms as we as stream other Party events,” he adds.
The app supports five different languages and according to its developers, will include more languages if there is demand. Afrosoft IT Solutions is an innovation hub that has been working to help young entrepreneurs and innovators develop technologies that offer virtual help to communities.
The software provides for an option for the NRM Party to host other Parties and its officials or not.
People without access to online platforms or even internet and smartphones can use a USSD code to get information about the Party. Through the small phones (feature phone) one can ask the Party any question through the short code 6115. Type NRM your question in any language – and send to 6115. And they shall receive a response swiftly.
The projected was supported by the NRM party Secretariat and the Ministry of ICT.