Kampala, Uganda: The Manager of the Office of the National Chairman (ONC), Hajjat Hadijah Namyalo Uzeiye, has called on Ugandans, particularly the youth, to turn out in large numbers for the Local Council I (LC1) elections scheduled for Monday, July 28, urging voters to elect leaders of integrity who will champion development and protect community interests.
Addressing journalists at the ONC headquarters in Kyambogo on Monday, July 27, Hajjat Namyalo, popularly known as Chief Muzzukulu, encouraged citizens to peacefully exercise their constitutional right to vote and support leaders committed to accountability, unity and effective grassroots service delivery.
“Turn up in large numbers and participate in the LC1 elections. Vote peacefully, uphold the democratic process, and elect NRM leaders committed to development, accountability, unity and effective service delivery,” Namyalo said.
She described the office of the LC1 chairperson as one of the most important leadership positions at the grassroots, saying the holder plays a central role in coordinating government programmes and addressing local challenges.
“The LC1 Chairperson is the president of the village, so please vote wisely and vote for leaders who will work closely with the government to deliver services to the people,” she said.
Namyalo urged voters to reject individuals she described as land grabbers and those who collaborate with criminals, saying communities deserve leaders who will safeguard public interests and promote development.
“Don’t vote for land grabbers or people who will collude with thieves. Vote for leaders who will deliver for the people, leaders who will lobby for government programmes such as the Parish Development Model to reach villages, leaders who will raise the alarm whenever there are no medicines in our hospitals and ensure that the concerns of their communities are brought to the attention of the relevant authorities,” she added.
The ONC manager also appealed to voters to report to polling stations as early as 7:00 a.m., citing experiences during the recent Women Council elections where, according to her, voting in some villages ended between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m., leaving many eligible voters unable to cast their ballots.
She urged the Electoral Commission to ensure every eligible voter is given a fair opportunity to participate in the democratic process.
Hajjat Namyalo further cautioned senior National Resistance Movement (NRM) leaders against influencing the electoral process by imposing candidates on communities. “Nobody should intimidate residents because it is their constitutional right to exercise their right to vote. Go and exercise your right freely,” she said.
She revealed that the Office of the National Chairman has deployed district and regional coordinators across the country to mobilise residents to participate in the elections and monitor the performance of NRM candidates.
However, she emphasized that the coordinators would neither interfere with the electoral process nor perform the duties of the Electoral Commission.
“As the Office of the National Chairman, we have deployed our district and regional coordinators to mobilise Ugandans to participate in the elections and monitor our NRM candidates. They are not there to interfere with the electoral process or do the work of the Electoral Commission. Their role is strictly mobilisation and monitoring,” she said.
Namyalo said peaceful, free and credible LC1 elections are essential for strengthening grassroots democracy and ensuring villages are led by accountable leaders capable of implementing government programmes and improving service delivery.
She concluded by urging Ugandans to carefully consider the choices they make at the ballot, reminding them that the leaders elected will shape the future of their communities over the next five years. “Let us vote for people you will not regret electing for the next five years,” she said.
The July 28 LC I elections will be conducted in all 71,214 villages across Uganda using the traditional lining-up method prescribed under the Local Government Act, with Parish (LC II) elections scheduled for August 10.
The polls are also significant because they mark the first LC I elections since 2018, ending years of leadership extensions after the previous five-year term expired in 2023. Uganda’s LC I elections were last held in 2018, following an earlier 17-year gap after the 2001 polls, making this year’s exercise another important milestone in restoring democratically elected grassroots leadership across the country.
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