By Ben Musanje
Uganda’s Electoral Commission has officially announced the long-awaited roadmap for the election of Local Council One (LC I), Parish Council (LC II), and Women Councils and Committees leaders, setting in motion a nationwide electoral process that will begin in early July and culminate in village and parish polls across the country.
Addressing the media in Kampala on Monday, Electoral Commission Chairperson Justice Byabakama Mugenyi Simon said the government had finally released the funds required to conduct the grassroots elections, ending years of anticipation among Ugandans eager to elect their local leaders.
“The programme has been long awaited, and we want to thank and appreciate the people of Uganda for the patience they have exhibited up to now,” Justice Byabakama said.
The Electoral Commission revealed that the electoral exercise will cover Uganda’s 71,214 villages and will include elections for village councils, parish councils, and women councils from the village level up to the national level.
Registration Begins July 6
The electoral process will commence with the verification of residents and compilation of the Village LC I Register and Village Women’s Council Register from July 6 to July 10, 2026.
During this period, eligible residents will be required to register in person at designated registration centres within their villages. The Commission said the exercise will be conducted free of charge and run daily from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
To qualify for registration, an individual must be a Ugandan citizen aged 18 years or above, ordinarily resident in the village where they seek to register, and willing to participate in the village council activities.
Women residents aged 18 and above will be required to register in both the Village Council Register and the Village Women’s Council Register, enabling them to participate in both electoral processes.
The Commission emphasized that registrants will be required to provide their names, National Identification Number or National ID application number, age, gender and village of residence.
Display of Registers
Following registration, the provisional registers will be displayed from July 13 to July 14 to allow residents to verify their details.
The Commission urged voters to carefully check the accuracy of their information and report any irregularities. Residents will also be expected to identify names of deceased persons, underage individuals, non-residents and non-citizens for removal from the registers.
Justice Byabakama described the display exercise as a critical step in ensuring the credibility and integrity of the elections.
Women Committees Elections Set for July 23
The Electoral Commission also announced the timetable for elections of Village Women Committees, which will comprise five members: Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary, Publicity Secretary and Secretary for Finance.
Nominations for candidates seeking these positions will take place between July 15 and July 19 at sub-county, town council and municipal division headquarters.
Candidates must be female Ugandan citizens aged 18 years and above, resident in the village where they intend to contest and registered on the Village Women’s Council Register.
Notably, no academic qualifications or nomination fees will be required.
Campaigns for the Women Committees elections will run from July 20 to July 22, with polling scheduled for July 23.
Voting will be conducted through the traditional lining-up method, where voters stand behind candidates, their representatives, portraits or symbols.
Multi-Party LC I Elections
In a major development, the Commission confirmed that elections for Village LC I Chairpersons will be conducted under Uganda’s multi-party political system.
Nominations for LC I Chairperson candidates will also take place from July 15 to July 19, while aspiring candidates will collect nomination forms between July 9 and July 14.
Like the Women Committee elections, candidates will not be required to possess academic qualifications or pay nomination fees.
Justice Byabakama called upon political parties and organizations to begin preparations early, including selecting flag bearers in accordance with the electoral timetable.
Campaigns for LC I Chairperson positions will run from July 20 to July 27 and will be restricted strictly to the candidate’s village.
“No candidate is allowed to hold physical campaigns outside or beyond his or her village,” the Commission warned.
Village Polls on July 28
The election of LC I Chairpersons will take place on July 28 in all villages where contests arise.
For purposes of the elections, each village will serve as a polling station.
Voting will be conducted by voters lining up behind candidates, their representatives, portraits or symbols in accordance with the Local Government Act, reaffirming the open-ballot system that has traditionally characterized village-level elections in Uganda.
The Electoral Commission outlined a detailed polling-day programme beginning with voter verification from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., followed by voter education and briefing sessions.
Actual voting and counting of votes will take place between 11:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., after which results will be declared.
The afternoon session will be dedicated to the nomination and approval of Village Executive Committee members.
The committee will comprise 11 members, including the chairperson, vice chairperson, general secretary and office bearers responsible for finance, security, information, youth, women, persons with disabilities, environmental protection and older persons.
Parish Elections Follow
The Electoral Commission said elections for Parish (LC II) Chairpersons and Executive Committees will immediately follow the village elections.
Compilation of the Parish voters’ register is scheduled for July 29, while display of the register will take place from July 30 to July 31.
Nominations for Parish Chairperson candidates will be conducted on August 3, followed by campaigns from August 4 to August 9.
Polling for Parish Chairpersons is set for August 10.
Call for Compliance
Justice Byabakama urged all stakeholders, including political parties, aspiring candidates and voters, to familiarize themselves with electoral laws and guidelines to ensure smooth and peaceful elections.
He appealed to Ugandans to actively participate in the process, describing the elections as vital to strengthening grassroots democracy and local governance.
“The Commission urges all Ugandans to participate in this electoral programme and to do so in accordance with the guidelines for each activity. This will ensure a smooth electoral exercise,” he said.
The announcement marks the beginning of one of Uganda’s largest grassroots electoral exercises, with millions of citizens expected to participate in electing leaders who directly influence governance and service delivery at the community level. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
