Da Dona
JF-Expert Member
- Dec 16, 2025
- 820
- 524
The State Minister for Local Government, Justine Nameere, has proposed that July 28, 2026, be declared a public holiday to enable Ugandans to participate in the Local Council One (LC1) elections.
Presenting a report to Parliament on the upcoming LC1 and LC2 elections, Nameere said the proposed public holiday would allow voters to travel to their villages and exercise their democratic right to elect local leaders. She argued that the move would boost voter turnout and strengthen grassroots democracy.
The minister also appealed to Parliament to suspend its sittings and allow Members of Parliament to return to their constituencies to mobilise citizens ahead of the polls.
Presenting a report to Parliament on the upcoming LC1 and LC2 elections, Nameere said the proposed public holiday would allow voters to travel to their villages and exercise their democratic right to elect local leaders. She argued that the move would boost voter turnout and strengthen grassroots democracy.
The minister also appealed to Parliament to suspend its sittings and allow Members of Parliament to return to their constituencies to mobilise citizens ahead of the polls.
According to the Electoral Commission's roadmap, LC1 elections are scheduled for July 28, 2026, and will be conducted in villages across the country, while LC2 elections will take place on August 10, 2026, at parish headquarters. Voters will elect LC1 chairpersons by lining up behind their preferred candidates, their representatives, portraits or symbols, in line with the Local Governments Act.
Nameere described Local Councils as the foundation of Uganda's decentralised governance system, noting that they play a vital role in maintaining security, resolving community disputes, mobilising citizens for development programmes, supporting initiatives such as the Parish Development Model (PDM) and Emyooga, and monitoring service delivery.
She further noted that the terms of office for current LC1 and LC2 leaders expired on June 28, 2026, but were extended to allow them to remain in office until newly elected leaders assume their positions after the elections.
The long-awaited grassroots elections will be conducted in more than 71,000 villages and over 10,700 parishes after Parliament approved Shs56.95 billion in supplementary funding to facilitate the exercise.
Nameere described Local Councils as the foundation of Uganda's decentralised governance system, noting that they play a vital role in maintaining security, resolving community disputes, mobilising citizens for development programmes, supporting initiatives such as the Parish Development Model (PDM) and Emyooga, and monitoring service delivery.
She further noted that the terms of office for current LC1 and LC2 leaders expired on June 28, 2026, but were extended to allow them to remain in office until newly elected leaders assume their positions after the elections.
The long-awaited grassroots elections will be conducted in more than 71,000 villages and over 10,700 parishes after Parliament approved Shs56.95 billion in supplementary funding to facilitate the exercise.
