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By Morish Dramadri Arua city Arua City Election Returning Officer Osman Ezale has issued a strong warning to candidates contesting for Local Council II chairperson positions across the city against violating the Electoral Commission’s campaign guidelines follo
By Morish Dramadri
Arua city
Arua City Election Returning Officer Osman Ezale has issued a strong warning to candidates contesting for Local Council II chairperson positions across the city against violating the Electoral Commission’s campaign guidelines following the official launch of campaigns on Monday.
Citing the violence that marred the recent Local Council I (LCI) campaigns and elections in parts of Arua City, Ezale warned that any candidate who engages in violence, intimidation, hate speech, or any other breach of the electoral guidelines will face the legal consequences provided under Uganda’s electoral laws.
Speaking to the media, Ezale urged the candidates to conduct peaceful and issue-based campaigns.
“This time the campaign is in the whole ward. As you campaign, we don’t want you to use vulgar or abusive language. We also don’t want candidates or supporters intimidating voters,” Ezale warned.
By press time, the Electoral Commission had not released the official number of candidates nominated for the LCII chairperson race in Arua City. However, a Radio Pacis survey indicates that several wards have already produced unopposed candidates.
The survey found that Komite, Lufe, Ewadri, Ombaci, Oreku and Ombokoro wards in Ayivu Division, together with Tanganyika and Kenya wards in Central Division, have all returned unopposed LCII chairperson candidates, with National Resistance Movement (NRM) flag bearers dominating the contests.
Nicholas Olema, the incumbent LCII Chairperson for Ewadri Ward and now the NRM Registrar for the former Manibe Sub-county, said Eleku Ward is the only area in the former sub-county where an independent candidate is challenging the NRM flag bearer.
“All our NRM flag bearers for LCII were nominated unopposed except in Eleku Ward, where there will be a competitive general election because one candidate is contesting as an independent,” Olema said.
In Tanganyika Ward, the incumbent LCII Chairperson, Ijaga Murusali, who was also nominated unopposed, said he is now shifting his focus from campaigning to preparing for governance.
“I was unopposed during the NRM primaries and again in the general election nominations. I am now planning to constitute my executive, working together with the elected LCI executive committees,” Murusali said.
Similarly, Summary Ijaga, the incumbent LCII Chairperson for Kenya Ward in Arua Central Division, who also secured an unopposed nomination for another term, pledged to promote peace, unity and development during the next five years.
“I was nominated unopposed for the general election. I pledge to work hand in hand with my people to strengthen peace and development in Kenya Ward during this term,” Ijaga said.
Campaigns for the Local Council II chairperson elections, which began on Monday, August 3, 2026, will conclude on Sunday, August 9, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. Voting will be held on Monday, August 10, 2026, with elected Local Council I executive committee members serving as the electoral college to elect LCII chairpersons in their respective wards.