Speaker of Parliament Among Suspends House over LC1 Polls

The Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon Anitah Annet Among has indefinitely suspended plenary until government comes up with a clear statement about Local Council LC1 elections.

"This is a very serious matter that must be corrected. I am not going to continue on something that is an illegality. I will not do it. We need the position of government, not to continue speculating. As we wait for that, this House will be adjourned sine die." Speaker Among directed.

The suspension follows several pleas from the Speaker to have the government come out with a comprehensive explanation on why LC1 elections are yet to be held despite speculations that the government has no money to conduct them.

The Electoral Commission was to conduct elections for Administrative Units (LC 1 and LC II) in Financial Year 2023/2024 once the required resources were allocated to the Commission. The term of office for the current Administrative Units (LC 1 and LC II)  expired on July 11 2023.

According to Paul Bukenya, the EC Spokesperson, the Commission had planned to conduct these elections during the FY 2022/23 before the expiry of the term of office of the current office bearers at a budgeted cost of Shs60.88bn.

“These funds were not provided within the approved EC budget for 2022/2023, hence the elections will not be organised in this Financial Year,” Bukenya said.

He added that the Commission had presented the requirement of Shs60.886bn in its budget for Financial Year 2023/24 in order to organise and conduct the elections.

Uganda has an estimated number of 10,595 parishes and 70, 626 Villages.