Electoral Commission Urges Peace as District, City Women’s Committee Elections Take Place

The Electoral Commission is today conducting elections for District and City Women Committees across all 146 districts and cities in Uganda, marking another key stage in the process of constituting the National Women’s Council.

The elections are being conducted in accordance with the law governing the election of Women’s Committees, with voters at the district and city level casting their votes by secret ballot using ballot papers.

According to Electoral Commission spokesperson Julius Mucunguzi, the voting procedure at this level differs from the method used during the elections of Women’s Committees at the village, parish and sub-county levels, where candidates were elected through lining up.

Mucunguzi said the law provides that elections for Women’s Committees at the district, city and higher levels must be conducted through secret ballot using ballot papers.

“Once the elections reach the stage of district and cities and upwards to the national level, those elections shall be by secret ballot using ballot papers,” Mucunguzi said.

He said the Electoral Commission has completed preparations for the exercise, including ensuring that all materials required for conducting secret-ballot elections have been delivered and that election officials across the country are ready to manage the process.

Four positions up for election

Unlike the lower-level Women’s Committee elections, where five positions were filled, today's district and city elections will involve four positions.

The positions being contested are:

Chairperson

Vice Chairperson

Publicity Secretary

Secretary for Finance

Mucunguzi clarified that the position of General Secretary is not being filled at the district and city level.

At the lower levels, Women’s Committees comprised a chairperson, vice chairperson, general secretary, publicity secretary and secretary for finance. However, the district and city-level elections have a different structure, with voters electing only the four positions listed above.

EC urges peaceful and orderly elections

The Electoral Commission has appealed to all participants in today's elections to ensure that the exercise is conducted peacefully and in accordance with the law.

The appeal covers candidates, their agents and supporters, security personnel, Electoral Commission officials and all other persons participating in or involved in the electoral process.

Mucunguzi urged all stakeholders to observe three key principles: peaceful conduct, compliance with Electoral Commission guidelines and adherence to all relevant electoral laws.

The Commission says these measures are intended to ensure that the elections are free, fair, transparent and credible.

The Electoral Commission is also expected to oversee the counting and declaration of results in accordance with the procedures governing the elections.

Another step towards National Women’s Council elections

The district and city elections form part of the broader process of constituting Women’s Committees throughout Uganda.

The exercise follows the elections that have already taken place at the village, parish and sub-county levels and brings the country closer to the final stage of the process — the election of the National Women’s Council.

According to Mucunguzi, the national-level elections are scheduled for September 3 and 4, 2026.

The National Women’s Council elections will therefore conclude the current sequence of Women’s Committee elections that has progressed from the grassroots level through the parish, sub-county, district and city levels.

The Electoral Commission has consequently called upon all stakeholders to maintain the same standards of peaceful participation and compliance with electoral laws as the country moves towards the national stage.

Mucunguzi said the Commission's preparations are aimed at ensuring that today's district and city elections are conducted in an orderly manner and in conformity with the law.

The elections taking place today across Uganda are therefore a significant milestone in establishing the next level of Women’s Committees and preparing the Electoral College and leadership structures required for the final election of the National Women’s Council in September.