The Electoral Commission (EC) has announced that it is fully prepared to conduct the Village Women Committees elections scheduled for Thursday, July 23, 2026, urging eligible women across the country to participate peacefully and in large numbers.
EC Chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama Mugenyi, while addressing journalists on Wednesday, said the Commission had completed key activities required ahead of the polls, including compilation and verification of village registers, nomination of candidates and commencement of campaigns.
The elections are part of a wider grassroots electoral programme launched on June 22, 2026, covering elections for Local Council I (LC I) chairpersons, Local Council II representatives, and Women Councils and Committees from the village level to the national level.
Byabakama said the Commission successfully compiled residents’ registers and village women’s registers in all 71,214 villages across Uganda between July 6 and 10, before displaying them for public verification on July 13 and 14.
He explained that the verification exercise allowed residents to confirm their details and report names of persons who were not eligible to appear on the registers.
“The participation of residents has been critical in achieving accurate and reliable registers for use during these elections,” Byabakama said, thanking citizens and other stakeholders for supporting the process.
The EC also confirmed that nominations for village chairperson candidates and Village Women Committee candidates were successfully conducted between July 15 and 19. Campaigns for women committee candidates concluded on Wednesday ahead of Thursday’s voting.
The Village Women Committees will consist of five members, including a chairperson, vice chairperson, secretary, publicity secretary and secretary for finance.
Byabakama said voting will be conducted through the lining-up method provided for under the Local Government Act, with the exercise beginning with voter verification from 7:00am to 10:00am.
This will be followed by voter education, after which polling will begin simultaneously in all villages at 11:00am.
He reminded voters that only women whose names appear on the village women’s register will be allowed to participate in the elections.
“If you never registered as a resident in your village, please do not waste time tomorrow because you are not a voter,” Byabakama said.
Meanwhile, campaigns for LC I chairperson candidates are ongoing and will continue until July 27, ahead of polling scheduled for July 28.
The EC chairperson cautioned candidates against violating campaign guidelines, reminding them that campaigns must only be conducted within their respective villages and between 7:00am and 6:00pm.
He also encouraged candidates to personally attend the polling exercise, warning that candidates represented only by portraits or agents may face challenges in immediately nominating members of their executive committees if declared winners.
After declaration of results, elected village chairpersons will nominate members of their executive committees, including the vice chairperson, general secretary and secretary for information, education and mobilisation. The nominees will then require approval by village council members through a show of hands.
The Commission said it had received several complaints related to voter registration and nominations but assured the public that investigations and necessary decisions were being undertaken.
Byabakama praised Ugandans for embracing the grassroots electoral process, saying the high level of participation had challenged earlier concerns that the lining-up voting system would discourage citizens from taking part.
“I want to thank the people of Uganda who have warmly and enthusiastically embraced this exercise. The level of interest has proved those who said people would not participate wrong,” he said.
The EC further urged political parties, candidates and voters to follow electoral guidelines and observe Ministry of Health measures aimed at preventing the spread of Ebola during the election period.
Byabakama called on all stakeholders to promote peaceful participation, tolerance and respect for the law to ensure credible and orderly elections.
“We urge all Ugandans to participate in these elections with civility, tolerance and respect for the law. This will ensure a smooth electoral exercise,” he said.
