Kampala — As Uganda gears up for a new wave of local governance, the Electoral Commission (EC) has unveiled the official programme and timetable for the Administrative Units elections—Village LC I (village councils), Parish LC II (parish councils), and the Village to National level Women’s Councils and Committees. With government funding now secured, the EC says the elections will proceed in a structured sequence of registration, nomination, campaigning, and polling, all designed to be free, fair, and inclusive.
The commission’s spokespersons underscored a simple, citizen-focused objective: to fill thousands of local leadership positions with residents who are ready to serve, while maintaining transparency and adherence to the law. The elections, they say, are also a test of Uganda’s broader commitment to participatory democracy at the grassroots.
A nationwide tally to fill roughly half a million posts
In a briefing circulated to media houses and political actors, the EC estimated that the forthcoming polls would fill about 500,321 positions across LC I, LC II and Women’s Committees nationwide. While the number may appear abstract to voters, it translates into thousands of village-level leaders and hundreds of district- and national-level representatives who will play roles in community welfare, development priorities, security, education, health, and social inclusion.
Registration and register-building: July 6–10, then July 13–14 for display
The process begins with two crucial register-building phases. From July 6 to July 10, 2026, eligible Ugandan residents will have the chance to register to participate in the Village LC I elections and to be included in the Village Women’s Council Register for Women’s Committees elections. The EC emphasized that registration is free of charge and would run daily from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The aim is to capture accurate particulars—names, national identity details, age, gender, and village of residence—to ensure clean rolls and minimal post-election disputes.
Crucially, eligible women will register in both registers and participate in both elections. The EC notes this dual registration is intentional to reflect the two pathways through which women contribute to community leadership—through village councils and through women’s committees—at different levels of governance.
Following the five-day registration window, a second phase kicks off: display of the registers on July 13 and 14, 2026. From 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. each day, villages will host open displays where residents can check their entries and verify identifications. Officials will be on hand to guide the public, answer questions, and collect reports of discrepancies. The EC asked voters to inspect for accuracy and to report any of the following: deceased individuals, under-age residents, non-residents, and non-citizens who might be improperly listed.
Nomination windows and the path to the LC I chair and Women’s Committee seats
July 15 to July 19 will mark the nomination period for the Village LC I Chairperson and for candidates vying for the Village Women’s Committee—five positions in total: Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary, Publicity Secretary, and Secretary for Finance. Nomination will take place at Sub County/Town/Municipal Division Headquarters, running from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on each day.
Several eligibility criteria shape who can contest. An aspiring Village LC I Chairperson must be a Ugandan citizen, at least 18 years old, a resident of the village, and registered on the Village Council Register. For the Village Women’s Committee, female candidates must be Ugandan citizens, 18 or older, ordinarily resident in the village, and registered on the Village Women’s Council Register. The EC stressed that no specific academic qualifications are required and that there will be no nomination fee.
Campaigns and polling: a focused window for Village Women’s Committees
Campaigns for Village Women’s Committees will run from July 20 to July 22, 2026, with public rallies and meetings allowed from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on those days. Polling for the Village Women’s Committees—five seats on the committee—will take place on July 23, 2026, at a public/open venue within the village. Voting will adhere to the National Women Councils Act and will involve lining behind the preferred candidate’s symbol, portrait, or representation, a method designed to minimize the barriers to voting and to boost visibility for women’s leadership.
Beyond village boundaries: shaping the Parish and District level
The electoral architecture for Women’s Councils extends beyond the village to the parish/ward and district levels. The Parish/Ward Women’s Council forms the electoral college for higher tiers, feeding into district/city Women’s Councils and the national framework. Notably, the electoral process includes a provision for representing women with disabilities at various levels, reflecting a broader commitment to inclusive governance. The EC’s notice indicates that nomination forms for the parish/ward-to-national-level elections will be issued in conjunction with the display of the relevant electoral college registers, as outlined in Appendix B of the programme.
Composition matters: what the Village LC I Executive Committee looks like
The Village LC I Executive Committee is set to comprise eleven members, including the Chairperson; a Vice Chairperson who will also serve as Secretary for Children Welfare; a General Secretary; a Secretary for Information, Education, and Mobilization; a Secretary for Security; a Secretary for Finance; a Secretary for Production and Environmental Protection; a Secretary for Youths; a Secretary for Women and the Public Health Coordinator; a Secretary for Persons with Disabilities Affairs; and a Secretary for the Council of Older Persons. The design underscores a broad spectrum of responsibilities at the village level, from welfare and health to youth engagement and environmental stewardship.
A multi-party landscape, with guidelines to follow
The EC underscored that these elections will operate under Uganda’s multi-party political dispensation. Political parties and organizations are being urged to prepare accordingly, and the nomination and campaigning rules will be implemented in line with the country’s electoral laws. While the press release provided by the EC offers a comprehensive outline of procedures, it also signaled that additional guidelines would be issued and published through media channels and the EC website.
Access to information and public accountability
Officials emphasized that the process is designed to be transparent, with clear checkpoints intended to reduce confusion and prevent disputes. The EC encouraged residents to stay informed via official channels—newspaper notices, radio, television, and the EC’s digital platforms. Public accountability, they argued, rests with citizens who attend display sessions, verify their details, and participate in the election process honestly.
What this means for voters
For Ugandans, the upcoming cycle promises more than just a routine exercise in casting ballots. It is an opportunity to shape the governance of villages, parishes, and districts. The inclusion of women’s councils at village, parish, and national levels adds another dimension to this empowerment, bringing more voices to the decision-making table on issues ranging from security and health to education and local development.
Residents are urged to take note of the key dates and to prepare early. Those intending to run for Village LC I Chairperson should prepare their nomination materials and consult the Parish Election Official (Nominating Officer) in their parish, with forms available between July 9 and July 14, 2026. Meanwhile, women seeking seats on the Village Women’s Committee should ensure they are registered in the Village Women’s Council Register to appear on the list and qualify for nomination.
The heart of Uganda’s democracy, say EC officials, lies not just in the ballot but in the readiness of people to participate—whether as voters, candidates, or campaign volunteers. By fostering robust voter rolls, clear nomination pathways, and transparent campaign rules, the EC hopes to minimize disputes and maximize participation.
What comes next
As the countdown continues, the EC will release more specifics—electoral guidelines, candidate eligibility lists, and the exact locations of village-level registration and polling venues. The public is advised to monitor the EC website and local media for the official guidelines, as well as any updates to the timetable.
In the meantime, the message to Ugandans remains consistent: participate, verify your information, and exercise your civic duty with integrity. The renewal of local leadership, the EC contends, rests in the hands of the people who live, work, and dream in Uganda’s villages and towns.
Notes for editors
- The total of 500,321 positions reflects nationwide positions across LC I, LC II, and Village Women’s Committees.
- Registration: 6–10 July 2026; Display: 13–14 July 2026; Nomination: 15–19 July 2026; Campaigns: 20–22 July 2026; Polling: 23 July 2026 (Village Women’s Committees).
- Village LC I Executive Committee: 11 positions with a structured portfolio across welfare, information, security, finance, production, youth, women, disability, and elder care.
- All procedures align with the National Women Councils Act, CAP 113, and Uganda’s multi-party electoral framework.
