By CHRISTINE A
Residents in Fort Portal City have expressed mixed reactions following the recent announcement by government to conduct long-awaited LC1 and LC2 elections.
The Ministry of Local Government, led by Raphael Magyezi, together with minister of ICT and National guidance, Chris Baryomunsi, announced that LC1, LC2 and Women Council elections will be held between March and April 2026 using the lining-up voting method.
Officials say the elections are intended to close existing leadership gaps at village and parish levels and improve service delivery to communities.
However, some residents in Fort Portal City have raised concerns about the lining-up voting method, arguing that it is time-consuming, inconveniences voters and is prone to manipulation.
Speaking to our reporter, Haruna Kibirango, a concerned citizen and Chairperson of the Democratic Party in the area, questioned the long delay in organizing the elections. He criticized the Electoral Commission for what he described as poor preparation, noting that many political parties currently lack structured leadership at village and parish levels to endorse aspiring candidates.
Kibirango said political parties are expected to have leaders from the village level up to the national level to streamline participation in such elections. He added that in some villages, former LC1 chairpersons—especially those affiliated with the ruling National Resistance Movement—have either served for many years or passed away, leaving leadership gaps and inactive party structures.
According to Kibirango, many villages are currently operating without substantive leaders. He urged the Electoral Commission and the Ministry of Local Government to first address alleged irregularities in previous presidential and parliamentary elections before organizing fresh polls.
Despite the concerns, the electoral commission has not yet officially released the exact polling dates and a formal road map .