NATIONAL
The Electoral Commission (EC) has commenced a five-day nationwide exercise to compile fresh village voters’ registers ahead of the forthcoming Local Council One (LC I) and Women Council elections, warning that only those who register will be eligible to vote or contest.
Speaking on Monday, EC spokesperson Julius Mucunguzi said the exercise, which started on July 6, will run until Friday, July 10, at 71,214 village centres across the country.
Mucunguzi urged all eligible Ugandans to take part in the registration exercise, stressing that the registers used during the 2026 General Election will not be used for the village polls.
“Two registers are going to be compiled at the village level. The first is for electing the LC I chairperson and committee, while the second is for electing women councils and women committees,” he said.
He explained that registration will take place daily from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at designated village meeting centres where residents ordinarily convene.
According to the Commission, a person seeking to register must be a Ugandan citizen aged 18 years and above, be an ordinary resident of the village, be known by fellow residents and be willing to participate in the elections.
Mucunguzi cautioned the public against assuming that previous registration during the General Election automatically qualifies them to vote in the village elections.
“These are the only registers that are going to be used in these elections. The registers used for the presidential, parliamentary and other elections will not be used on this occasion. The Commission is compiling entirely new village voters’ registers,” he said.
He added that anyone intending to vote or contest for the position of LC I chairperson or serve on the women committees must first register during the five-day exercise.
“We have waited for these local council elections for a long time. Please do not miss this opportunity because failure to register means you will not participate,” Mucunguzi said.
The Commission has scheduled Women Council elections at village level for July 23, 2026, while LC I chairperson and committee elections will be held on July 28, 2026.
The registration exercise is part of the Electoral Commission’s preparations for the long-awaited grassroots elections, which are expected to strengthen local governance and community leadership across the country.
