By Tolit Ivan
Richard Todwong, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Secretary General, has urged voters in the Acholi Sub region not to take the upcoming Local Council One elections lightly, emphasizing that village leaders play a critical role in governance and service delivery.
The Electoral Commission has scheduled the LC1 elections for 28 July 2026, when voters in more than 72,000 villages across Uganda are expected to elect their village leaders.
The Local Council I (LC1) chairperson is the political head of a village under Uganda’s local government system.
Guided by the Local Governments Act, LC1 leaders are responsible for maintaining law and order, coordinating village security, resolving minor disputes, monitoring government programmes, and issuing essential administrative letters to residents.
Todwong warned that failure by eligible voters to participate in the elections could result in the election of leaders who lack the capacity to effectively serve their communities.
Julius Mucunguzi, the Electoral Commission spokesperson has also appealed to Ugandans to actively participate in the elections, saying the quality of leadership depends on the choices made by voters.