Uganda's NRM Clears Flagbearers for LC1 Elections

Uganda’s Electoral Commission has set July 28, 2026, as the official polling date for nationwide Local Council I (LC1) elections. Addressing journalists at the Electoral Commission headquarters in Kampala on Monday, June 22, 2026, the commission’s chairperson, Justice Byabakama Mugenyi Simon, announced that the massive exercise will take place simultaneously across all 71,214 villages in the country. This effort aims to resolve a leadership vacuum and address legal queries that have lingered since the previous terms of office expired. The breakthrough follows the government’s release of Shs56 billion to the electoral body to finance the exercise.

Electoral Commission Sets July 28, 2026, as Polling Date

The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) has concluded the process of selecting and endorsing its flagbearers for these forthcoming Village Women Council and Local Council I (LC1) elections. Secretary General Rt. Hon. Richard Todwong, speaking during an exclusive interview at his home in Nwoya district on July 12, 2026, confirmed that the party will field candidates in all 71,214 villages. According to Todwong, the party successfully conducted village barazas to elect and validate its flagbearers. A nationwide village validation exercise was conducted on July 10 to confirm that previously elected LC1 flagbearers were still resident in their respective villages and remained willing to represent the party. This exercise also identified Women’s Council representatives and filled vacancies left by former flagbearers who had lost interest in politics, died, or relocated.

NRM Finalizes Candidate Nomination for 71,214 Villages

Addressing journalists at the NRM Secretariat in Kampala, Todwong noted that the party endorsed the nomination forms for these candidates on July 13 and 14, clearing them to seek official nomination by the Electoral Commission. He has called on party members to actively participate in the electoral process and rally support for the candidates. Furthermore, Todwong urged NRM members to participate in the ongoing display of village voters’ registers by the Electoral Commission to verify that their details have been correctly captured ahead of the polls. According to the party, nominations for LC1 chairperson and Village Women Council positions are scheduled to take place between July 16 and 19.

NRM Urges Members to Validate Voter Registers Ahead of Polls

The focus on grassroots leadership follows earlier government preparations. Previously, ICT minister and government spokesperson Chris Baryomunsi and Local Governments minister Raphael Magyezi had announced plans for these grassroots elections. The polls will involve selecting office bearers by lining up behind candidates. However, the process has faced scrutiny from opposition parties. Mr. Lewis Rubongoya, the Secretary General of the National Unity Platform (NUP), previously questioned the timing of the grassroots elections, citing ongoing concerns regarding the resolution of electoral disputes.

Road to LC1 Elections: NRM Intensifies Nationwide Grassroots Mobilization

Government Preparations Meet Opposition Scrutiny

The NRM’s current mobilization effort builds upon previous training initiatives conducted by the party secretariat. On October 13 of the previous year, the NRM electoral commission hosted a training session attended by over 500 people, including new senior cadres and eminent personalities from all regions of Uganda. Notable figures in attendance included former vice-president Specioza Wandira Kazibwe, as well as politicians David Migereko and Justine Lumumba. These facilitators were tasked with unpacking the NRM manifesto to mobilize and canvas votes for party candidates at the grassroots level, following the directive from the party chairperson: “No task force this time; the party belongs to the people. Let’s go to the people.”