It was official Local Council Elections would be held in November bringing an end to almost two decades of unconstitutional leadership at the community level. The Electoral Commission said all was set for Local Council I & II elections. “We have not had LCI elections for 15 years and that gap down there, that void has caused a lot of instability in our communities, it is high time we address this problem and have these elections. And therefore, they can only succeed if all of us support this endeavor, we embrace the process.” Said the EC Chairperson.
Tuesday 31st October - 1st November would be the display of Voters’ Registers. The nomination of candidates for Village Local Council I will be slated for 15th – 16th November and nominations will be conducted at Parish headquarters. Thereafter, campaigns will start and run for four days from 17th – 20th November 2017. No nomination fees will be paid and only eligible candidates will not need academic qualifications for all the positions there. “The election of the Village LCI Chairperson shall be by voters lining up behind the nominated candidates or their representatives or their portraits or symbols that are in accordance with Section 111 Sub-section 2 of the Local Government Act as amended.” Said the EC Chairperson.
While addressing the media, the Electoral Commission Chairperson Justice Byabakama Mugyenyi Simon urged all aspiring candidates and stakeholders to familiarize themselves with the relevant laws and guidelines during the election period. “Let us embrace this system as provided for under the law. Let us appeal to our people that this is a mere election, it should not be a cause for division, for hatred, for clickism and all these kind of ills which had either too not existed in those areas.” On the voting day, the assembly and verification of voters by Village Election Officials will start at 7 am – 10 am followed by voter education and briefing of voters on voting procedures between 10 am and 11 am. The actual lining up for voting will be expected to take place between 11 am and 11:30 am followed by vote counting.
