The Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), Justice Simon Mugenyi Byabakama, has explained why Uganda will continue conducting Local Council I (LC I) elections using the lining-up method instead of a secret ballot, saying the government lacks sufficient resources to finance such an exercise.
Speaking during a televised broadcast on Monday, July 27th, 2026, Justice Byabakama said the government had long recognized that holding LC I elections by secret ballot would be prohibitively expensive.
“The government recognized long ago that conducting LC elections by secret ballot would be prohibitively expensive. The money we have, UGX 56.9 billion, for the LC elections is just a drop in the ocean if we are to conduct a secret ballot LC election,” he said.
The EC chairperson noted that the Commission has already undertaken extensive preparations for the elections, including voter registration, the display of the national voters’ register, and other polling day arrangements.ByabakamaByabakama
He also urged voters to remain at their polling stations after casting their votes instead of leaving immediately.
“When you vote in the LC I elections, don’t go home. Stay at the polling station until the entire electoral process is concluded. If you leave immediately after voting, you deny the chairperson the opportunity to select you to serve on the village executive committee. The village chairperson can only appoint members to the executive committee from among those who are present at the polling station,” he noted.
According to Byabakama, voters who leave immediately after voting may miss the opportunity to be considered for appointment to the village executive committee, as only those in attendance are eligible for selection.
The Electoral Commission has continued to encourage citizens to actively participate in the electoral process and comply with polling procedures to ensure free, transparent, and credible village elections across the country. The LCI chairperson elections will be held on Tuesday, July 28th, 2026.
