Every time a land dispute erupts in Atwol B village in Padibe town council, residents know exactly where they should seek help first: the local council chairperson.
For generations, village leaders have been the first port of call for conflicts over land boundaries, family disagreements, domestic violence cases, and community development matters.
Yet for many years, residents in villages across Lamwo district and other districts in the country have relied on leaders whose mandates expired long ago.
Now, with the Electoral Commission unveiling a roadmap for Local Council I, Local Council II, and Women Councils elections scheduled between July and September 2026, many communities are expressing renewed hope that grassroots democracy will finally be revitalised.
Among those eagerly awaiting the polls is Odongo Solomon of Atwol B village, who plans to contest for the LCI chairperson position.
“We have waited for these elections for a very long time,” Odongo says. “Village leaders play an important role in resolving disputes, mobilizing communities for development programmes, and connecting people to government services.
“Communities deserve leaders who have a fresh mandate from the people.”
His sentiments echo those of many residents across Lamwo, where the absence of regular village elections has raised concerns about accountability and representation.
The last nationwide LCI and LCII elections were held in 2018 after more than 15 years without polls at that level.
Before then, most village leaders had remained in office since 2001, following repeated postponements caused by financial constraints, legal challenges, and electoral reforms.
Women council elections have similarly experienced delays, leaving many grassroots structures operating with outdated leadership mandates.
For residents like Arop Francis of Aluu West village in Padibe West dub-county, the long wait has weakened citizen participation in local governance.
“Village leadership is the foundation of governance,” Arop says. “When leaders stay in office for too long without elections, accountability suffers. Communities need leaders who are elected by the people and answerable to them.”
In Ngomoromo South village, Gangdyang parish in Padibe town council, Okot Sam says the forthcoming elections present an opportunity to rejuvenate local leadership.
“People have been asking for years when these elections would take place,” he says. “Village leaders are the first point of contact between citizens and the government. It is important that communities’ elect leaders they trust.”
Uganda’s local government system places significant responsibility on LCI and LCII leaders. LCI chairpersons oversee village administration, mediate disputes, mobilise residents for government programmes, maintain community security through local committees, and certify important documents required for accessing public services.
LCII leaders coordinate activities at parish level, linking villages to sub-county administrations and supporting implementation of government programmes.
Women Councils, meanwhile, provide a critical platform for promoting women’s participation in leadership and decision-making.
They advocate for women’s rights, address gender-based concerns, mobilise women for development initiatives, and ensure that women’s voices are represented within local governance structures.
Governance experts argue that effective grassroots leadership strengthens democracy because it brings decision-making closer to ordinary citizens.
Active village institutions also improve accountability in public programmes, facilitate community participation, and promote peaceful conflict resolution.
According to the electoral commission roadmap, recruitment of village election officials began in June 2026, while polling for LC I chairpersons is scheduled for July 28, followed by LC II elections on August 10.
As preparations gather momentum, many residents in Lamwo hope the elections will not simply produce new leaders, but also restore public confidence in the grassroots institutions that form the backbone of Uganda’s local government system.
For communities that have waited years to cast their votes, the forthcoming elections represent more than a political exercise.
They are an opportunity to renew leadership, strengthen accountability, and give citizens a stronger voice in shaping their own development.
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