ARUA CITY LOCAL COUNCIL CAMPAIGNS COMMENCE PEACEFUL WITH CAUTION ON ADHERENCE TO GUIDELINES

Arua City Returning Officer, Osman Ezale, during an interview with Radio Pacis at his office on Monday July 20, 2026 (Photo: Onzoma Albert)

By Onzoma Albert

Arua City

The election campaigns for Local Council 1 Chairperson and Women Council in Arua City began peacefully across 54 wards and 469 cells, including in Ayivu and Arua Central Divisions. The campaigns follow conclusion of five-day nomination process and emphasis on adherence to Electoral Commission Campaign guidelines that prohibit processions.

The LC 1 campaign will run for seven days until July 27, with elections scheduled for July 28, while the Women Council campaigns which commenced the same day today and will last three days until July 22, leading to elections on July 23.

Osman Ezale, the electoral commission’s returning officer, confirmed that campaigns are progressing smoothly across the city and emphasized the importance of candidates adhering to the guidelines.

“In Arua city the campaigns are so far progressing on well and we have issued campaign guidelines for the campaigns to candidates and electorates where we don’t encourage use of abusive languages and campaigning beyond required time and others, our campaigns will kick off at 8:00am and end at 5:00pm every day and we don’t expect candidates to campaign at night, the campaigns are strictly at village level and we don’t encourage road processions” he said.

The campaigns are designated periods where only nominated candidates are permitted to campaign, aiming to ensure organized and peaceful activities.

Santos Olia Gama, LC 2 Chairman of Alivu Ward, reported that there have been no major challenges during the first day of campaigns in his ward with seven cells, indicating a peaceful start.

“We are progressing so well and our candidates are doing very well without violence and I support of them in this campaigns and our people are very calm, violence free and cooperating very well with us” he said.

Ezale, further called on both candidates and voters to participate peacefully and strictly follow the electoral guidelines.

“I want to appeal to all Ugandans especially my people of Arua city let’s maintain peace because election is not a do a die activity they come and go, we had general elections peacefully and people are okay, let the local council and women council elections as well end peacefully” he added.

The Electoral Commission appealed to stakeholders to cooperate and participate responsibly throughout the election process, emphasizing that the success of the elections depends on peaceful conduct and adherence to established rules.

The initial stages of the campaigns are ongoing peacefully, with officials urging continued calm and compliance to ensure a smooth electoral process in Arua City, leading to transparent and credible local election outcomes.