By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
MBARARA
Mbarara Archdiocese Priest has been elected the National Resistance Movement (NRM) flag bearer for the Nyamitanga Village LC1 chairperson race ahead of the July 28 Local Council elections.
Rev. Fr. Fidelis Betungura, the Assistant Director of Radio Maria Mbarara Substation, secured the party flag after polling 270 votes during the NRM village baraza held on Friday to elect flag bearers for LC1, LC2 and Women Council positions.
Fr. Betungura will now face candidates sponsored by other political parties as well as independents in the LC1 elections.
Speaking shortly after his victory, Fr. Betungura thanked voters for entrusting him with the party flag and urged residents of Nyamitanga Village to support the NRM candidate in the forthcoming polls.
“I thank the people of Nyamitanga for the confidence they have shown in me. I appeal to all residents to come out in large numbers on polling day and vote for the NRM,” he said.
Born in Kashekuro Parish in Sheema District, Fr. Betungura is among the well-known priests in the Mbarara Archdiocese. Besides serving as Assistant Director of Radio Maria Mbarara, he has been instrumental in the station’s resource mobilisation initiatives and has coordinated the annual Mariathon fundraising campaign, commonly known as Maria-tona, across many parishes in the archdiocese.
The election comes as the Electoral Commission (EC) finalises preparations for the nationwide Local Council elections.
The EC has scheduled polling for LC1 chairpersons on July 28 across Uganda’s 71,214 villages, marking the first such elections since 2018.
The commission on Friday concluded the nationwide registration and updating of village registers for the elections. Collection of nomination forms for LC1 chairperson candidates is underway and will run from July 9 to July 14.
Campaigns are expected to take place from July 20 to July 27 ahead of polling day.
The EC Chairperson, Justice Simon Byabakama, clarified the strict requirements for those wishing to contest for the village leadership positions.
”Candidates must be Ugandan citizens aged 18 years and above, residents of the village, and registered in the village council register,” Justice Byabakama stated.
The Commission further clarified that no formal academic qualifications will be required for candidates contesting for LC1, LC2, and Women Council positions
Byabakama said non-academic requirement is to keep the local council elections highly accessible to grassroots leaders.
