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Gulu political parties prepare for local council elections amid mixed readiness

13 July 2026, 2:47 pm

Election poster nailed on the tree at Kasubi Quoans quarters where registration of voters took place from 6 to 10 July 2026.

By Emmanuel Mwaka

Political parties across Gulu City are rapidly intensifying their grassroots mobiliSations as momentum builds for the upcoming Local Council one, two and women council elections.

The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) has declared absolute preparedness for the upcoming elections. Speaking from her office, Her Worship Gifter Aber the NRM Chairperson for Gulu City who also serves as the Mayor of Laroo-Pece City Division revealed that the party infrastructure is already operating at maximum capacity.

According to Aber, the NRM leadership officially commenced the verification and stamping of nomination forms today. The exercise covers a vast slate of party candidates, including flag bearers across all 127 cells for LC1 and 32 wards for the LC2 leadership positions.

Aber Gifter the NRM chairperson Gulu city on the readiness of the party for the elections.
Her worship Aber Gifter the NRM chairperson Gulu city and also the mayor Laroo Pece city division speaking to our reporter from her office on Monday 13 July 2026.

The UPC Gulu City Chairman, Mr Opira Thomas Raymond who simultaneously serves as the LC1 Chairman for Pabo Quarters, acknowledged that while the party is actively trying to front its candidates, they are working under difficult conditions.

He admitted that field operations are currently constrained by a lack of clear implementation guidelines and direction from the party’s national headquarters, leaving local organisers to navigate the nomination process under a cloud of logistical uncertainty.

Opira Thomas Raymond the UPC chairperson Gulu city on the readiness of the party for the elections.
UPC party logo.

People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) is demonstrating robust grassroots activity in Northern Uganda. Mr. Komakech Simon, the PFF Spokesperson for the Acholi subregion, noted that the party has launched an aggressive outreach strategy to field strong contenders.

Komakech revealed that the PFF has already held several strategic planning meetings and is vigorously organising candidates across the city’s divisions. However, he emphasised that the elections should be free and fair.

Mr. Komakech Simon the PFF spokesperson for Acholi subregion on the readiness.
Mr. Komakech Simon the People Front for Freedom party spokesperson for Acholi subregion talking to our reporter.

As the race for Gulu City’s local councils intensifies, the variance in party preparation underscores the high stakes of grassroots political control in the region as NRM party has predominantly been scooping most of the positions.