Kampala, Uganda: The Electoral Commission (EC) has finally unveiled a comprehensive roadmap for the long-awaited Local Council I (LC I), Local Council II (LC II), and Women’s Councils elections, ending years of uncertainty surrounding grassroots governance across Uganda.
The roadmap was confirmed by EC Chairperson, Justice Simon Byabakama, while addressing journalists at the EC headquarters in Kampala on Monday, June 22, 2026, where he revealed that Ugandans will go to the polls on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, to elect Village Local Council I chairpersons.
The nationwide exercise, according to the released roadmap, will be conducted simultaneously across all 71,214 villages, marking the first LC I elections since 2018 and ending a prolonged period of leadership extensions that followed the expiry of the previous office bearers’ mandates in July 2023.
“The process shall start on July 6 with the verification of residents and compilation of the village register where all residents wishing to participate in the elections, whether as voters or candidates, must be on that register,” Justice Byabakama said.
Byabakama also confirmed a breakthrough in the funding of the exercise following the release of Shs56 billion by the government to facilitate the elections.
End of Years of Extensions
Uganda last held LC I and LC II elections in 2018 after a 17-year gap since the previous polls in 2001. When the five-year term of office expired in July 2023, the Electoral Commission was unable to organize fresh elections due to funding constraints.
To avoid an administrative vacuum, the Minister of Local Government, Raphael Magyezi, with approval from Cabinet and Parliament, issued a series of statutory instruments extending the tenure of LC I and LC II leaders every six months.
The extensions were issued in July and December 2023, June and December 2024, and June 2025, attracting criticism from legal experts, civil society organizations, and opposition politicians who questioned the legality of continued leadership under extended mandates.
Registration and Voter Verification
The electoral process will begin with the verification of residents and compilation of the Village General Voters Register from July 6 to July 10, 2026. A separate register will also be compiled for Village Women’s Council elections.
The Electoral Commission emphasized that registration will be free of charge, but to qualify for registration, an individual must:
- Be a Ugandan citizen.
- Be 18 years and above.
- Be an ordinary resident of the village.
- Be willing to serve as a member of the Village Council.
Applicants will be required to present a National Identification Card, National Identification Number (NIN), or National ID application number.
Eligible women will register on both the Village General Register and the Women’s Council Register, allowing them to participate in both elections.
The voters’ registers will be displayed for public scrutiny on July 13 and 14, 2026, to enable communities to identify and remove deceased persons, underage individuals, non-citizens, and non-residents.
Candidate Nominations
Candidates intending to contest for LC I chairperson positions will collect nomination forms between July 9 and July 14 from Parish Election Officials.
Formal nominations will take place from July 15 to July 19 at Sub-county, Town Council, and Municipal Division headquarters.
The elections will be conducted under Uganda’s multi-party political system, allowing political parties to sponsor candidates while also permitting independent contestants.
Unlike parliamentary and district-level elections, no academic qualifications or nomination fees will be required for candidates.
Campaigns will run from July 20 to July 27.
The Electoral Commission said campaign meetings will only be conducted between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. and must remain within the candidate’s village boundaries.
Voting by Lining Up
Voting for LC I chairpersons will take place on July 28 using the traditional method of voters lining up behind candidates, their representatives, portraits, or political symbols.
The Electoral Commission released the following election-day schedule:
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 7:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. | Assembly and verification of voters |
| 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. | Voter education and briefing |
| 11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. | Voting and counting |
| 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | Declaration of results |
| 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. | Election of Executive Committee members |
Following the declaration of the chairperson-elect, the Village Council will constitute the remaining members of the 11-member Village Executive Committee.
Six members, including the Vice Chairperson, General Secretary, and Secretaries for Information, Security, Finance, and Production, will be nominated by the elected chairperson and approved by the council through a show of hands.
The remaining four positions will automatically be occupied by elected leaders of Special Interest Groups.
LC II Elections and Women’s Councils
The electoral process will continue with LC II elections in August.
Compilation of the Parish Voters Register will take place on July 29, while polling for Parish Chairpersons is scheduled for August 10, 2026.
The Women’s Councils elections will follow a progressive structure from village to national level:
- Village Women’s Committees – July 23
- Parish Women’s Committees – August 7
- Sub-county Women’s Committees – August 18
- District and City Women’s Committees – August 28
- National Women’s Committee Conference – September 3–4
The Electoral Commission has urged political parties, candidates, civil society organizations, and citizens to familiarize themselves with the roadmap and participate peacefully throughout the electoral process.
Justice Byabakama emphasized that the elections are critical for strengthening grassroots democracy and restoring full local governance structures across the country.
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