The opposition party, the Democratic Party (DP), has joined other political forces in criticizing the Electoral Commission (EC) for the delayed release of the Local Council (LC) election roadmap.

In response, President Yoweri Museveni has directed the Ministry of Finance to allocate UShs 56.9 billion to facilitate the electoral process.

Speaking to the media at the party headquarters on Mengo Balintuma Road, Deputy National Legal Advisor, Nsubuga Kenneth Ssebagayunga, expressed disappointment that, despite the announcement of the LC1 and LC2 elections, little progress has been made by the Electoral Commission (EC).

This comes after the Minister of State for Local Government, Hon. Victoria Rusoke, announced during a plenary sitting presided over by Speaker Anita Among that the long-awaited elections would take place by the end of April 2026.

Nsubuga further pointed out the critical role that LC councils play in the governance structure, as outlined under Section 50 of the Local Governments Act.

These councils are responsible for monitoring service delivery, resolving local disputes, maintaining law and order, and linking citizens to higher levels of government.

Therefore, Nsubuga stressed the need for the government to urgently amend the electoral framework to ensure that LC elections are fully integrated into the national electoral calendar, just like Special Interest Groups (SIGs) and LC3 elections.

He also called on DP members to prepare themselves to take up leadership roles at the local council level when the time comes.

Meanwhile, Nsubuga revealed that DP has appointed 20 law firms to represent its members seeking legal redress in election petitions, as the publication of elected leaders is nearly complete. Uncontested leaders are expected to head to court over disputes.

He called on the judiciary to maintain independence and integrity during this critical time, urging fair handling of any legal challenges.

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