Preparations complete for LC1 elections in Amolatar district

27 July 2026, 6:30 pm

By Sarah Ejang

Amolatar District is set to conduct Local Council One (LC1) elections tomorrow, with preparations finalized for voting across all 581 villages.

The District Returning Officer, Nakiru Irene Hope, confirmed that polling stations will be operational throughout the district, ensuring accessible voting for the electorate.

A total of over 64,000 residents are registered to vote in this election, comprising 31,677 males and 32,519 females. Registration closed officially prior to the polls, and no additional voters will be added to the rolls.

RO Irene highlighted the competitive nature of the elections, noting a strong presence of political parties as well as independent candidates vying for positions:

• National Resistance Movement (NRM): 270 candidates
• Uganda People’s Congress (UPC): 86 candidates
• Forum for Democratic Change (FDC): 8 candidates
• Independent candidates: 180

She emphasized that the ruling National Resistance Movement maintains a majority of unopposed seats. However, she clarified that if any unopposed candidate withdraws at the last moment, voting will still take place in those areas.

“The Electoral Commission will deploy the experienced team that managed the recent Women Council elections to oversee tomorrow’s polling,” said RO Irene.

She further stressed that voting must take place strictly within each designated village.

Exceptions will only be made for certain isolated areas, where up to three neighboring villages may be combined to ensure voter safety.

Importantly, the District Returning Officer warned candidates against the commercialization of the electoral process, confirming that strict measures are in place to prevent and combat the monetization of campaigns.

In a firm statement, the Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Okello Odoki Francis Rwotlonyo, assured the public that security arrangements have been heightened to guarantee a peaceful voting environment.

“Anyone intending to disrupt the election should ‘prepare their will before leaving home,’” RDC Okello warned, underscoring the seriousness with which security forces will respond to disturbances.

He revealed that a substantial number of both uniformed and plainclothes security personnel will be deployed across all polling centers for thorough patrols during the election day.

Officials urge all residents to exercise their democratic rights responsibly by participating peacefully in the LC1 elections and contributing to the district’s stability and development.