Kampala, (UG):- The government of Uganda has once again extended the term of office for local council one (LCI) and two (LCII) chairpersons by six months, effective Thursday, July 4, 2024.
This decision marks the third postponement of elections for these positions, initially scheduled last year and again earlier this year.
In a notice published in the Uganda Gazette on July 2, 2024, Minister of Local Government Hon. Raphael Magyezi announced this extension of the administrative local councils One and Two terms for 180 days (six months) beginning today 4th July 2024, affecting local council leaders whose last elections were held in 2018.
The postponement of subsequent elections has been attributed to financial constraints.
It remains unclear whether the government will conduct local council elections within the new six-month period or delay until the general elections in 2026.
In January 2024 the term of office for Local Councils 1 and 2 and Women Councils were extended for another 180 days, until early July 2024.
This followed the tabling of the statutory instruments providing for the extension, on the floor of the House in a sitting held on Tuesday, 09 January 2024.
While chairing the sitting, Speaker Anita Among tasked the Minister for Local Government to lay the statutory Instruments for House approval, noting that they were seconded by Cabinet prior to the expiry of the extended term of office for the Local Councils on 05 January 2024.
She observed that on 28 July 2023, the Government initially tabled a statutory instrument extending their term of office for six months.
This was attributed to a lack of funds to hold elections for new officebearers at the time. “The 180 days were to expire on 05 January 2024, prompting the minister to issue this extension on 29 December 2023 so that he was not caught up by time.
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