The Government of Uganda has officially confirmed new developments regarding the leadership of Administrative Unit Councils, commonly known as Local Council I (LC1) and Local Council II (LC2). According to a formal statement by the Minister, the term of office for the current village and parish leaders expired on 28th June 2026, marking an important transition period in local governance.
Following this expiry, the Electoral Commission has released a new roadmap to guide the upcoming elections for Administrative Units, which include village (cell) and parish (ward) councils. These elections are now scheduled to take place in two phases. The first phase will be held on 28th July 2026 at the village level, while the second phase will take place on 10th August 2026 for parish-level leadership.
The statement emphasizes that Local Council leaders play a very important role in community governance across Uganda. These leaders act as the first point of contact between the government and citizens. They help maintain security and order in communities, work closely with police and other security agencies, and support national programs such as census activities, recruitment processes, and issuance of identification documents like national IDs and passports.
In addition, LC1 and LC2 leaders are also responsible for resolving local disputes through Local Council Courts. Because of these responsibilities, the government highlighted that these councils remain a critical foundation of governance at the grassroots level. Their role in mobilizing communities and supporting government programs makes them essential in daily administration.
Even though the official term has expired, the government has directed that current leaders will continue performing their duties until newly elected leaders assume office. This transition will include a formal handover process supervised by district authorities. During this period, all official tools of leadership, including stamps and administrative instruments, must be properly transferred.
The statement also reminded the public about legal restrictions on holding multiple political offices. Under the Local Governments Act, a person cannot serve in more than one local government political position at the same time. If someone is elected to a higher local council, they must automatically vacate the lower position to ensure proper leadership structure and fairness.
Furthermore, the Electoral Commission has been instructed to make sure that all remaining elections at village levels are properly organized and completed. The government has encouraged citizens across Uganda to actively participate in the upcoming elections by voting and even offering themselves for leadership positions.
As the country prepares for these important grassroots elections, citizens are urged to remain engaged, informed, and ready to take part in shaping their local leadership. The upcoming LC1 and LC2 elections are expected to play a key role in strengthening governance and community participation across all regions of Uganda.
