Kampala — THE Electoral Commission (EC) pulled a first when it sent short text messages (SMS) to people's mobile phones to remind potential voters of yesterday's referendum polls on change of political system.

The EC contracted SMS Media Company to send out over 500,000 messages to potential voters in various parts of the country, urging them to participate in the exercise, as a way of boosting voter numbers.

SMS Media's Clients Executive Mr Chris Ssali said his company sent out messages in a period of two days to build up momentum for voting.

"The bulk of the messages has been sent out between Tuesday and today (Thursday) so that the message is fresh for those who receive it. We have been urging people to share the sms with friends because a message generates many others and increases impact," Ssali said.

The messages were channelled through Uganda's three major telephone networks: MTN, Celtel Uganda and Mango. Over 1.5 million people are estimated to own mobile phones.

Ssali said he believed his company had encouraged a big number of voters to participate in the referendum since any phone user cannot avoid massages.

"The advantage of SMS messages is that whoever receives the massage automatically reads it before deleting it. We have been stressing patriotism and reflecting voting as a national duty," Ssali said.

Sources in State House said messages were sent selectively to different individuals.

"Not every one received the messages. They were selective," a source said.

An EC official Mr Peter Jabweli said the government funded the drive but he declined to mention how much was spent.

"The whole exercise was hundred percent funded by the government. We expected messages to encourage more voters," Jabweli said.

The development came after traditional parties under Group Six (G6) opposed the referendum and asked the general public to boycott it.

Business in Kampala city remained normal and people were busy drinking at noon as markets, shops and super markets remained open.

The exercise left most of the people either disinterested or generally confused especially on the issues of the symbols.

The Mayor of Kampala, Mr John Ssebaana Kizito, yesterday told Daily Monitor the exercise was not necessary.

Citing the Political Parties and Organisations Act, Ssebaana said the political parties had already been operationalised by the Act.

"With the coming into play of the Act, political parties have registered, mobilised at grassroots, opened up branches and are now recruiting new members. What will then happen to these people voted NO? the mayor asked.