By Aggrey Baba
Uganda’s Parliament has approved another extension for Local Council (LC) I and II leaders after delays in organizing new elections due to financial constraints. This is the fourth time their term has been extended since it officially expired in July 2023.
The extension, lasting 180 days, was requested by the Ministry of Local Government and approved by Cabinet. The decision was published in the Uganda Gazette and New Vision newspaper on December 18, 2024.
Uganda’s Local Government system operates under the 1995 Constitution and the Local Governments Act, which mandates elections for administrative unit councils every five years. The last elections were held in 2018, but due to budget limitations, the Electoral Commission has been unable to organize fresh polls.
As a result, the government has repeatedly extended the current leaders’ term, raising concerns about legality and governance. The Cabinet has now decided to align these elections with the 2026 general elections to save costs and improve voter turnout.
The Parliamentary Committee on Public Service and Local Government noted that the continuous extensions raise concerns about democratic accountability, as voters have been denied the right to elect new leaders for over eight years.
Many current local leaders may have lost public support, yet they remain in office due to delayed elections. The delay also undermines service delivery, as Local Councils plays a crucial role in security, administration, and community governance.
The Electoral Commission estimates that holding separate elections for LCs and Women’s Councils would cost UGX 97.25 billion, whereas combining them with the 2026 general elections would reduce costs to UGX 58.13 billion.
The Committee recommended that the Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development allocate the necessary funds to ensure elections are held in 2026 without further extensions. It also urged the Electoral Commission to update its election roadmap accordingly.
With Uganda approaching the 2026 general elections, the government faces pressure to ensure timely and credible LC elections.
The final decision now rests on the Ministry of Finance to provide the necessary funds and avoid another round of extensions. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
