The Manager of the Office of the National Chairman (ONC), Hajjat Hadijah Namyalo Uzeiye, has urged Ugandans to participate actively and peacefully in the Local Council I (LC1) elections, calling on voters to choose leaders who will promote development, accountability, and effective service delivery in their communities.
Addressing journalists at the ONC headquarters in Kyambogo ahead of the elections scheduled for July 28, 2026, Hajjat Namyalo, popularly known as Chief Muzzukulu, encouraged citizens, especially the youth, to turn up in large numbers and exercise their constitutional right to vote.
She said the LC1 leadership position remains a critical foundation of grassroots governance, noting that village leaders play a key role in addressing community challenges, maintaining security, and coordinating the implementation of government programmes.
“The LC1 Chairperson is the president of the village. Vote wisely and choose leaders who will work closely with the government to deliver services to the people,” Hajjat Namyalo said.
She urged voters to elect leaders who will champion the interests of their communities, support government initiatives such as the Parish Development Model (PDM) and Operation Wealth Creation (OWC), and ensure that local concerns are presented to relevant authorities.
Hajjat Namyalo cautioned residents against voting for leaders who may compromise community development, urging them to avoid candidates involved in practices that undermine the welfare of citizens.
“Do not vote for land grabbers or people who will collude with thieves. Choose leaders who will deliver for the people, lobby for government programmes to reach villages, and ensure community concerns are addressed,” she said.
The ONC Manager also encouraged voters to arrive early at polling stations to allow sufficient time for verification in the voters’ register and smooth conduct of the electoral process.
Her remarks followed concerns raised over challenges during the recently concluded Women Council elections, where some voters reportedly missed the opportunity to participate due to the limited time available for voting in some areas.
She advised LC1 voters to report early, beginning at 7:00 a.m., to avoid missing the opportunity to cast their ballots.
Hajjat Namyalo further called on leaders to respect the will of voters and refrain from interfering in the electoral process by imposing candidates on communities.
“Nobody should intimidate residents because it is their constitutional right to exercise their right to vote freely,” she said.
She revealed that the ONC has deployed its district and regional coordinators across the country to mobilise citizens to participate in the LC1 elections and monitor the performance of National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidates.
However, she clarified that the coordinators are not involved in the work of the Electoral Commission but are focused on mobilisation and monitoring.
“As the Office of the National Chairman, our coordinators have been deployed to mobilise Ugandans to participate in the elections and monitor our candidates. They are not there to interfere with the electoral process or perform the duties of the Electoral Commission,” she said.
Hajjat Namyalo said peaceful and credible LC1 elections are essential in strengthening grassroots democracy and ensuring villages are led by leaders who are accountable and committed to improving the lives of citizens.
She concluded by urging voters to carefully consider their choices, reminding them that the leaders elected will shape the future of their communities for the next five years.
“Let us vote for people you will not regret electing for the next five years,” she said.