SECURITY URGES PUBLIC TO PARTICIPATE IN LC I, LC II ELECTIONS

SSP. Josephine Angucia addressing media in her office on Monday- photo by Morish Dramadri.

By Morish Dramadri

Arua city

Security agencies in West Nile have called on the public to actively participate in the upcoming Local Council One (LC I) and Local Council Two (LC II) elections, emphasizing the critical role local council structures play in community policing, peacebuilding, and maintaining security.

In June this year, the Electoral Commission unveiled the roadmap for the long-awaited LC I and LC II elections, the first to be conducted since 2019. Voter registration officially commenced on Monday, July 6, 2026, with subsequent electoral activities scheduled ahead of polling on July 28, 2026.

Speaking to journalists in Arua City, the West Nile Regional Police Spokesperson, SSP Josephine Angucia, urged all eligible voters to ensure they register and participate in the electoral process. She noted that Local Council leaders are key partners in promoting peace, security, and development at the grassroots level.

“If you want to participate in the LC elections, you are supposed to be registered in your village, whether you are working in an office or elsewhere. Please spare time to go and register so that you will be able to vote for your LC. The office of the LC is very important because they enhance our work of policing in various ways. As police, we encourage all community members to participate in this,” SSP Angucia said.

Local Council One leaders are mandated to oversee community security, local administration, conflict resolution, community mobilization, and the coordination of government programs at the village level. Their offices remain central to Uganda’s decentralization policy and grassroots governance.

The Assistant Resident City Commissioner for Arua City, Job Richard Matua, also urged residents to take the elections seriously, warning voters against electing leaders with questionable integrity or criminal backgrounds.

“There is no better leader than your LC I chairperson because this is the leader you live with every day, who listens to your problems and helps address them. Please do not develop election fatigue. Go and register so that you can elect leaders who will serve your community well. Do not vote for the wrong people. If a candidate has failed to uphold law and order, such a person should not be re-elected,” Matua cautioned.

According to the Electoral Commission’s roadmap, the compilation of the Village Voters Register for the Village and Women’s Council elections, which began on Monday, July 6, 2026, will continue until Friday, July 10, 2026.

The exercise marks the first step towards the long-awaited grassroots elections expected to strengthen local governance, enhance community participation, and improve service delivery across the country.