Electoral Commission hails successful LC I elections

30 July 2026, 9:34 am

By Ronald Ssemagonja

The Electoral Commission has described the recently concluded Local Council I (LC I) Chairperson elections as largely successful, with voting completed in the majority of villages across the country.

Addressing journalists at the Electoral Commission headquarters in Kampala, the Commission Chairperson, Justice Simon Mugenyi Byabakama, thanked Ugandans for participating peacefully in the elections. He revealed that voting was successfully conducted in 70,079 of the country’s 71,214 villages, representing 98.4 percent of all villages.

Justice Byabakama said elections in the remaining villages, where the exercise was postponed due to various challenges, will be conducted on August 1, 2026. He commended the security agencies, Electoral Commission staff, the media, and all stakeholders for their contribution towards the successful conduct of the elections.

The Commission Chairperson emphasized that only voters whose names appear in the official village registers are eligible to participate in the elections. He also clarified that it is the responsibility of the respective returning officers, and not the Electoral Commission headquarters, to declare election results.

Justice Byabakama apologized for delays experienced in some polling areas and urged candidates who are dissatisfied with the election outcomes to petition the Electoral Commission through the established legal procedures.

He further condemned reports of violence against voters, urging victims to report such incidents to the Police so that appropriate action can be taken. He also reminded political parties that their role is to present candidates and not interfere with the electoral process.

Meanwhile, the Treasurer of the Federation of Uganda Taxi Operators (UTOF), William Katumba, commended the government and the Electoral Commission for organizing the elections despite the challenges encountered. He congratulated the successful candidates and urged them to prioritize service delivery and development in their respective villages.