The Ministry of Local Government has urged Ugandans to turn out in large numbers for today’s Local Council I (LC I) elections, describing the exercise as a critical step in strengthening grassroots democracy, accountability and service delivery after years of delayed village polls.
In a statement issued on the eve of the elections, the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Ben Kumumanya, said the LC I and LC II structures remain the foundation of Uganda’s decentralized governance system, serving as the first point of contact between citizens and government.
Kumumanya noted that every vote cast contributes to strengthening decentralization, promoting peace and security, enhancing accountability, and accelerating the country’s socio-economic transformation.
According to the Electoral Commission, Uganda has about 71,214 villages, each expected to elect a village chairperson and executive committee. This makes LC I leaders the closest elected representatives to the people and key players in addressing community concerns at the grassroots level.
The country last held nationwide LC I elections on July 10, 2018—the first such polls in 17 years after the previous elections in 2001.
As with the 2018 exercise, voting in today’s elections will be conducted using the lining-up method rather than the secret ballot, a system adopted to reduce the cost of conducting the polls.
Under Article 181(4) of the Constitution and the Local Governments Act, LC leaders are required to be elected every five years, meaning fresh elections should ordinarily have been held in 2023. However, the elections were postponed several times due to funding constraints, legal and administrative adjustments, and revisions to the Electoral Commission’s electoral roadmap.
Kumumanya called on voters to assess candidates based on their integrity, character and proven commitment to serving their communities, stressing that leadership should be entrusted to individuals who put public interest above personal gain.
To facilitate maximum participation in the elections, the Ministry of Public Service declared Tuesday, July 28, a public holiday, allowing eligible voters across the country to take part in the grassroots electoral exercise.
By Francis Lubega
27th July 2026
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