KAMPALA, Uganda — The Government has put on hold the long-awaited Local Council (LC) 1 and LC2 elections, citing financial constraints, in a move that is likely to delay grassroots leadership renewal across the country.
According to a statement shared by the Government of Uganda, aspiring candidates for the village and parish-level positions will have to wait longer as authorities mobilise the necessary resources to conduct the polls.
State Minister for Finance in charge of General Duties Henry Musasizi confirmed the development, saying government is currently unable to facilitate the elections.
“The Government is unable to facilitate the elections at the moment,” Musasizi said, indicating that budgetary limitations have forced a postponement of the exercise that had been expected this year.
Local Council 1 and 2 elections are critical to Uganda’s governance structure, forming the foundation of leadership at village and parish levels. The positions play a key role in community mobilisation, conflict resolution, and implementation of government programmes.
The delay raises concerns about the continued operation of interim or outdated leadership structures in many parts of the country, where LC officials have overstayed beyond their electoral mandate due to repeated postponements of the polls.
The Electoral Commission has in the past cited funding gaps as a major obstacle to organising LC elections, which require significant logistical support given their nationwide scope.
Despite the setback, officials say government remains committed to holding the elections once adequate resources are secured, although no new timeline has been announced.
The postponement comes amid competing fiscal pressures, as government balances multiple priorities including infrastructure development, public service delivery, and debt obligations.
