The Uganda Electoral Commission has announced the programme and dates for the long-awaited Local Council I, Local Council II, Women’s Council and Committee elections across the country.
While addressing journalists at a press conference on Monday, June 22nd, 2026, at the Electoral Commission Headquarters in the Industrial Area, Kampala, Chairperson Justice Simon Mugenyi Byabakama said the government had provided the necessary funding, enabling the Commission to proceed with the long-delayed grassroots elections.
Justice Byabakama said the first major activity will be the verification of residence and compilation of the village register, as well as the village women’s register.
This exercise will run from July 6th-10th, 2026. He clarified that only residents of a village, rather than individuals merely born there, are eligible to register and participate in the elections.
“To participate in the village elections, either as a candidate or as a voter, you must be registered in the village register as a resident. The primary criteria here is residence, not origin,” he said.
The display of the compiled registers will take place on July 13th and 14th, 2026.
During this period, residents are encouraged to verify their details and identify deceased persons, underage individuals, and non-residents who may have been incorrectly included on the register.
Nomination of candidates for the five positions on the Village Women’s Committees will run from July 15th-19th, 2026, at sub-county, town, or municipal division headquarters.
Byabakama clarified that only biological women are eligible to participate in the women’s council elections.
He emphasized that registration and nomination will be free of charge and warned against any attempts to extort money from residents during the process.
Byabakama also noted that there are 71,214 villages across the country where these elections will be conducted.
The Commission has also clarified that only registers generated by the Electoral Commission will be used for these elections.
Justice Byabakama urged all eligible residents to turn up in person during the registration period to ensure they are properly captured in the village where they reside.
He further explained the distinction between the village council and the village executive committee, noting that only the chairperson position on the executive committee will be elective during the LCI elections.
