KAMPALA —The Manager of the Office of the National Chairman (ONC), Hajjat Hadijah Namyalo Uzeiye, has said newly elected Local Council I (LC1) leaders will play a critical role in shaping the future of their communities over the next five years.
Hajjat Namyalo made the remarks while monitoring the LC1 Chairperson elections held across the country, where millions of Ugandans participated in choosing leaders for 71,214 villages.
The elections, organised by the Electoral Commission through the open lining-up voting system, marked a major grassroots democratic exercise aimed at renewing village leadership structures that serve as the first link between citizens and government.
During her monitoring tour in different parts of Kampala, Hajjat Namyalo interacted with voters, election officials and community members, urging residents to elect leaders who are committed to service delivery, accountability and community transformation.
She began her tour in Nakawa at Kigogwa, Kalina Abbiri Village I, where she visited Ntinda Hospital Polling Station and encouraged residents to support leaders who can work closely with government to ensure effective implementation of development programmes.
The ONC Manager later proceeded to Banda B1–Acholi Quarters, where she observed the voting process and urged voters to choose leaders who prioritise poverty reduction, community mobilisation and improved livelihoods.
She also visited Kamwanyi Zone in Nsambya, Mukiyembe and Kabalagala Central to assess the progress of the exercise, commending voters for maintaining peace and order during the elections.
At Goodwill Polling Station in Nsambya, Hajjat Namyalo arrived intending to cast her vote but found that Igogo Catherine had already been declared elected unopposed, meaning no voting was conducted at the polling station.
She congratulated the newly elected LC1 Chairperson and pledged to work with local leaders to support community development initiatives, including improving roads and expanding access to government empowerment programmes.
Hajjat Namyalo said LC1 leaders have a vital responsibility because they are the closest representatives of government at the village level.
She noted that their duties go beyond administrative roles, as they are expected to support community mobilisation, maintain local security, resolve conflicts, handle land-related matters and coordinate government programmes such as the Parish Development Model (PDM) and Operation Wealth Creation (OWC).
“The leaders elected today will shape the direction of our villages for the next five years. Let us continue to support leaders who will work for the people and bring government services closer to every community,” Hajjat Namyalo said.
She further called upon all stakeholders to respect the outcome of the elections and maintain peace, saying credible elections depend on the commitment of voters, candidates and communities.
The ONC Manager clarified that ONC coordinators deployed across the country were only involved in mobilising citizens to participate in the elections and monitoring the performance of NRM candidates, without interfering in the Electoral Commission’s mandate.
She described the LC1 elections as an important milestone in strengthening grassroots democracy and ensuring communities are led by accountable leaders who understand local challenges and can champion development.
The newly elected village leaders are expected to serve as key partners in implementing government programmes and addressing community needs during their five-year term.