By Infora Media
Kampala — The Manager of the Office of the National Chairman (ONC), Hajjat Hadijah Namyalo Uzeiye, on Tuesday joined thousands of Ugandans participating in the 2026 local government elections, expressing satisfaction with what she described as a peaceful, well-organised, and efficient voting exercise.
Hajjat Namyalo cast her vote at Goodwill Zone Polling Station in Nsambya Central, Makindye Division, where she applauded the Electoral Commission for ensuring a smooth electoral process, particularly highlighting improvements in voter verification.
Addressing journalists after voting, Namyalo commended the functionality of the Biometric Voter Verification (BVVK) machines, noting a marked improvement compared to previous elections.
“The voting process has been very smooth and fast,” she said. “The BVVK machines are working efficiently. I was scanned and verified without any challenge, which is a big improvement from what we witnessed during the presidential and parliamentary elections.”
She further described the 2026 local government polls as among the best-organised elections Uganda has conducted, citing calm polling stations and orderly voter turnout as indicators of growing confidence in the country’s electoral system.
“This is one of the good elections we have had as a country. The environment is peaceful, and the process is well-coordinated,” Namyalo added.
Namyalo also expressed optimism about the performance of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) in Kampala, pointing to what she termed as visible enthusiasm and voter support for the party across several polling stations.
“From what I have observed, there is clear support for the NRM in Kampala. Many voters are turning up to support our candidates,” she noted.
The local government elections are a critical phase of the broader 2026 electoral roadmap, with voters choosing leaders at city division, municipality, and councillor levels. According to the Electoral Commission, 325 candidates were nominated for 56 municipality and city division chairperson positions, while 3,313 candidates are contesting for 888 directly elected councillor seats. An additional 1,833 candidates are vying for 626 women councillor positions.
The NRM is seeking to consolidate recent electoral gains, having secured three parliamentary seats in Kampala, four in Wakiso—including the district chairperson seat—and one LC5 position in Mukono. However, in Mukono District, the National Unity Platform (NUP) swept all parliamentary seats.
In the most recent local government council elections, NRM secured eight directly elected councillor seats in Kampala, while NUP won 17 seats and the Lord Mayoral position. Special interest group councillor slots—representing youth, workers, older persons, and persons with disabilities—are traditionally dominated by the NRM.
Meanwhile, in Makindye Division, the mayoral race concluded with NRM’s Yasin Omari remaining unopposed after the Electoral Commission disqualified 11 candidates. Omari, who previously served as Muyenga LC1 Chairperson, is now awaiting official swearing-in.