Kampala, Uganda: The Manager of the Office of the National Chairman (ONC), Hajjat Hadijah Namyalo Uzeiye, on Tuesday cast her vote in the ongoing 2026 local government elections, commending the Electoral Commission for what she described as a smooth, orderly and well-managed process in Kampala.
Hajjat Namyalo voted at Goodwill Zone polling station in Nsambya Central, Makindye Division, where she participated in electing division councillors and mayors.
Speaking to journalists shortly after voting, Namyalo praised the Electoral Commission for notable improvements in election management, particularly the functionality of the Biometric Voter Verification (BVVK) machines.
“The process today has been smooth and swift,” Namyalo said. “Unlike some of the challenges experienced during the recent presidential and parliamentary elections, the BVVK machines are working well. I was scanned and confirmed as a legitimate voter without any delay.”
She described the overall conduct of the local government polls as peaceful and well-coordinated, noting that the calm atmosphere at polling stations reflected growing public confidence in Uganda’s electoral system. “This is one of the good elections Uganda has organised,” she added.
Namyalo also expressed optimism about the performance of the National Resistance Movement in Kampala, citing what she described as visible enthusiasm and support for the party’s candidates across polling stations she visited.
“From my observation, there are clear signs that the NRM continues to enjoy support in Kampala, with many voters turning up to back the party’s candidates,” she said.
The local government elections are a key component of the wider 2026 electoral cycle, with voters choosing leaders at municipality, city division and councillor levels.
According to the Electoral Commission, 325 candidates were nominated for 56 municipality and city division chairperson seats, 3,313 candidates for 888 directly elected councillor positions, and 1,833 candidates for 626 women councillor slots.
The NRM is seeking to consolidate gains registered in recent elections. During the parliamentary polls, the party secured three seats in Kampala, four in Wakiso, including the district chairperson seat, and one LC5 position in Mukono, although the National Unity Platform won all parliamentary seats in Mukono.
In last week’s local government council elections, the NRM won eight directly elected councillor seats in Kampala, while NUP secured 17 seats and the Lord Mayoral position. Special interest group councillor slots, covering youth, workers, older persons and persons with disabilities, have traditionally been dominated by the NRM.
Meanwhile, in Makindye Division, the mayoral race concluded with Yasin Omari of the NRM remaining unopposed after the Electoral Commission disqualified 11 candidates. Omari, formerly the Muyenga LC1 chairperson, is now awaiting swearing-in.
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