Electoral Commission Unveils Roadmap for Long-Awaited LC I, LC II and Women Councils Elections

Kampala, Uganda – June 22, 2026 The Electoral Commission (EC) has officially unveiled a comprehensive roadmap for the conduct of Administrative Units Elections, commonly known as Local Council I (LC I) and Local Council II (LC II) elections, alongside Women Councils and Committees elections from the village level up to the national level.

Addressing the nation, Electoral Commission Chairperson, Justice Byabakama Mugenyi Simon, announced that the electoral programme will commence in July 2026 following the release of the necessary funding by the Government.

The announcement ends years of anticipation by Ugandans awaiting the renewal of grassroots leadership structures that form the foundation of local governance across the country.

Appreciation for Patience and Government Support

Justice Byabakama thanked Ugandans for their patience throughout the period during which elections had not been conducted. He also commended the Government for ensuring continuity in local leadership by extending the mandates of existing LC officials in accordance with the law to prevent leadership vacuums.

"With Government having provided the Electoral Commission with the much-needed funds, the Commission is now able to conduct these important elections," he said.

Registration of Village Residents Begins July 6

The first major activity in the electoral programme will be the verification and registration of residents for the Village Council and Village Women's Council registers.

The exercise will take place from July 6 to July 10, 2026, across all 71,214 villages in Uganda.

During this period, eligible residents will be required to register in person within their respective villages. The exercise will facilitate the compilation of two separate registers:

The Village Council Register for LC I elections.

The Village Women's Council Register for Women Councils and Committees elections.

Women who qualify will be registered on both registers, enabling them to participate in both electoral processes.

The registration exercise will be conducted free of charge from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily.

To qualify for registration, an individual must be a Ugandan citizen, at least 18 years old, ordinarily resident in the village, and willing to participate in village council activities.

Residents will be required to provide their names, National Identification Number or National ID application number, age, gender, and village of residence.

Display of Registers Scheduled for Mid-July

The Electoral Commission will display the Village Council and Village Women's Council registers on July 13 and 14, 2026.

The exercise will enable residents to verify their details and report inaccuracies or ineligible individuals, including deceased persons, non-residents, underage individuals, and non-citizens.

Justice Byabakama emphasized the importance of public participation in ensuring credible and accurate registers.

Village Women Committee Elections to Take Place First

The Commission has prioritized elections for Village Women Committees, which will serve as the foundation for Women Councils and Committees elections at higher levels.

The Village Women Committee will comprise five members:

Chairperson

Vice Chairperson

Secretary

Publicity Secretary

Secretary for Finance

Nominations for these positions will be conducted from July 15 to July 19, 2026, at Sub-county, Town Council and Municipal Division headquarters.

Candidates must be Ugandan women aged 18 years and above, ordinarily resident in the village and registered on the Village Women's Council Register.

No academic qualifications or nomination fees will be required.

Campaigns will be conducted from July 20 to July 22, with polling scheduled for July 23, 2026.

Voting will be conducted through the traditional lining-up method, where voters queue behind candidates, their representatives, portraits or symbols.

Elections for Women Councils to Progress to National Level

Following the village elections, Women Councils and Committees elections will proceed progressively through Parish, Sub-county, District and National levels.

The electoral colleges at each level will comprise elected representatives from lower structures, ensuring grassroots representation throughout the women's leadership hierarchy.

Special provisions have also been made for the representation of women with disabilities at various levels.

LC I Chairperson Nominations Open July 15

The Electoral Commission has scheduled nominations for Village (LC I) Chairperson candidates from July 15 to July 19, 2026.

Interested candidates will collect nomination forms from Parish Election Officials between July 9 and July 14.

Candidates must be Ugandan citizens aged 18 years and above, resident within the village where they seek election, and registered on the Village Council Register.

The elections will be conducted under Uganda's multiparty political system, allowing political parties and organizations to field candidates.

As with the Women Committee elections, no academic qualifications or nomination fees will be required.

Eight-Day Campaign Period for LC I

Elections Campaigns for LC I Chairperson candidates will run from July 20 to July 27, 2026.

The Electoral Commission has directed that campaigns must be confined to the candidate's village and conducted only between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

Candidates will not be permitted to campaign outside their respective villages.

LC I Polling Set for July 28

Polling for Village Chairpersons will be conducted nationwide on July 28, 2026, in all villages where contests arise.

Each village will serve as a polling station.

Voting will again be conducted through the lining-up system as provided for under the Local Government Act.

The day will begin with voter verification from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., followed by voter education and briefing.

Actual voting and counting will take place between 11:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., after which results will be declared.

Formation of Village Executive Committees

Upon election of the Village Chairperson, the newly elected leader will nominate members of the Village Executive Committee from among members present.

The committee will comprise eleven members, including:

Chairperson

Vice Chairperson

General Secretary

Secretary for Information and Mobilization

Secretary for Security

Secretary for Finance

Secretary for Production and Environmental Protection

Secretary for Youth Affairs

Secretary for Women Affairs and Public Health Secretary for Persons with Disabilities Affairs

Secretary for Older Persons

Several members will join automatically by virtue of their positions as elected leaders of special interest groups.

Parish (LC II) Elections Follow in August

The Commission has also announced the programme for Parish (LC II) elections. Key activities include: 

Compilation of Parish Register July 29, 2026

Display of Register July 30-31, 2026

Nomination of Candidates August 3, 2026

Campaigns August 4-9, 2026

Polling Day August 10, 2026

The Parish Council electoral college will comprise members of Village Executive Committees within each parish.

Call for Compliance and Participation

Justice Byabakama urged all stakeholders, including political parties, aspiring candidates and voters, to familiarize themselves with the electoral laws, guidelines and procedures governing the elections.

He called upon political parties to begin preparations early, including the identification and election of flag bearers where necessary. 

The Electoral Commission further appealed to all Ugandans to actively participate in the electoral process to strengthen grassroots democracy and local governance.

"The Commission urges all Ugandans to participate in this electoral programme and to do so in accordance with the guidelines for each activity. This will ensure a smooth outcome," Justice Byabakama said.

The forthcoming elections are expected to revitalize local governance structures and restore direct citizen participation in decision-making processes at the village and parish levels, which are widely regarded as the foundation of Uganda's decentralized governance system.