The Electoral Commission has set July 28, 2026, as the date for long-awaited elections of Village Local Council One (LC I) chairpersons across Uganda, ending years of uncertainty and repeated extensions of grassroots leaders’ terms.
Announcing the roadmap at the Electoral Commission headquarters in Kampala on Monday, EC Chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama Mugenyi said the nationwide exercise will be conducted simultaneously in all 71,214 villages, marking a significant milestone in restoring elected leadership at the grassroots level.
Justice Byabakama revealed that the government has released Shs56 billion to facilitate the elections, paving the way for the commencement of the electoral process.
“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,” he said.
The elections come after several years of delays caused largely by funding constraints. The last village and parish elections were held in 2018, ending a 17-year gap since the previous polls in 2001. When the five-year mandate of the elected leaders expired in July 2023, the Electoral Commission was unable to organize fresh elections due to a lack of funds.
To maintain continuity in local administration, the government, through the Ministry of Local Government, repeatedly extended the tenure of LC I and LC II leaders. The extensions, approved through statutory instruments under the Local Government Act, sparked criticism from legal experts, civil society organizations, and opposition politicians who questioned the legitimacy of leaders serving beyond their original mandates.
Under the roadmap, the compilation and verification of the Village General Voters Register will take place from July 6 to July 10, 2026. During the same period, the Electoral Commission will compile a separate register for Village Women’s Council elections.
The Commission emphasized that registration will be free of charge. Eligible voters must be Ugandan citizens aged 18 years and above, ordinary residents of the village in which they seek registration, and willing members of the Village Council. Applicants will be required to present a National Identification Card, National Identification Number (NIN), or proof of National ID registration.
The voters’ registers will be displayed for public scrutiny on July 13 and 14, giving residents an opportunity to verify entries and report ineligible individuals, including deceased persons, minors, non-citizens, and non-residents.
Candidates seeking election as LC I chairpersons will collect nomination forms between July 9 and July 14 from Parish Election Officials. Formal nominations will be conducted 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 field candidates while also permitting independent contestants. No academic qualifications or nomination fees will be required.
Campaigns will run from July 20 to July 27. The Electoral Commission has directed that campaign meetings be held only between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. and restricted to the candidate’s village. Cross-village campaigning will not be permitted.
On polling day, voting will be conducted through the traditional lining-up method as provided for under the Local Government Act. Voters will line up behind their preferred candidates, representatives, portraits, or party symbols.
The election exercise will begin with voter verification at 7:00 a.m., followed by voter education and the actual voting process. Results are expected to be declared before noon, after which the newly elected chairpersons will oversee the formation of the remaining members of the Village Executive Committees.
The Electoral Commission also announced that elections for Parish (LC II) chairpersons will be held on August 10, 2026, following the compilation of parish voters’ registers starting July 29.
Meanwhile, elections for Women Councils and Committees will be conducted in phases from the village level to the national level between July and September 2026. Village Women Committees will be elected on July 23, followed by elections at parish, sub-county, district, city, and national levels.
Justice Byabakama called upon political parties, candidates, stakeholders, and citizens to familiarize themselves with the electoral roadmap and participate peacefully to ensure credible and transparent elections.
He said the successful conduct of the elections will strengthen local governance structures and enhance citizen participation in decision-making at the grassroots level.
