The Electoral Commission is facing a critical test of its ability to deliver credible and inclusive grassroots elections as Uganda prepares to elect Village (LC I) Chairpersons and Village Women’s Committees across the country.
The Commission has confirmed that LC I Chairperson elections will be held on July 28, 2026, in all 71,214 villages, with each village serving as a polling station. However, the elections come amid complaints arising from the compilation of voters’ registers and nomination of candidates, raising concerns about the integrity and credibility of the electoral process.
Electoral Commission Chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama Mugenyi said the Commission had received several complaints from stakeholders during the registration and nomination exercises. While some complaints were handled by Parish Complaints Committees, others have been referred to the Commission for hearing and determination.
The Commission began hearing the complaints on July 22, with Justice Byabakama appealing for patience as the cases are considered and appropriate lawful action taken.
The complaints come at a time when the Commission is racing to complete preparations for the elections. The Village Council and Village Women’s Council registers were compiled between July 6 and 10 and displayed for verification from July 13 to 14. Candidates for LC I Chairpersons and Village Women’s Committees were nominated between July 15 and 19.
The elections are also expected to test the level of citizen participation in grassroots governance. Women will elect five members of their Village Women’s Committees on July 23, while LC I Chairperson elections will take place on July 28.
Voting for the LC I Chairperson will be conducted through lining up behind candidates, their representatives, portraits or symbols, a system that has long been used in Uganda’s grassroots elections but which continues to attract debate over voter privacy and the ability of voters to make independent choices.
Under the electoral programme, successful LC I Chairpersons will later nominate members of their executive committees, while representatives of youth, women, persons with disabilities and older persons will join the executive committee by virtue of their positions in their respective special-interest councils.
The Commission has urged candidates, political parties and other stakeholders to comply with the law and electoral guidelines, warning that the grassroots elections require the cooperation of all participants to ensure a smooth process.
The elections are also being conducted amid an Ebola environment, adding a public health concern to the logistical and political challenges facing the electoral process. The Commission has therefore called on all stakeholders to observe Ministry of Health guidelines to prevent the spread of the virus.
With the village serving as the lowest and most direct level of governance, the July elections will provide a crucial test of whether Uganda’s grassroots electoral system can deliver credible, inclusive and peaceful leadership while addressing complaints and protecting public health.
