EC Suspends LC1 Elections in Two Villages in Hoima

The Electoral Commission (EC) has suspended LC1 elections in two villages in Hoima district over irregularities in voter registers.

The affected villages are Kijangi B in Tonya Parish in Buseruka sub-county and Busanga in Busanga Parish, Buraru sub-county.

According to available information obtained by Uganda Radio Network (URN), the EC was compelled to suspend elections in the two villages after discovering that nonresidents had been ferried and registered to take part in the voting process.

This was after some candidates vying for the LC1 Positions allegedly connived with EC officials deployed to register voters in the two villages and allegedly registered nonresidents.

Hassan Takwana, the Hoima district Returning Officer, confirmed that several formal complaints were lodged against the officers, adding that internal investigations by the Electoral Commission also established that some officials had indeed been conniving with candidates to register nonresidents. He says as a result, EC had to call off elections in the two villages.

Takwana says the EC officials whose details have been concealed for fear of jeopardizing investigations are currently being investigated, adding that stern disciplinary action would be taken against them. According to Takwana, elections in the affected villages will be conducted on August 7, 2026, and he called on residents in the areas to be calm.

Hoima district has 319 villages scattered across 55 parishes in 14 sub-counties.

Meanwhile, Takwana says, voting will go on uninterrupted in all the remaining villages.

He has appealed to the candidates to prevent their supporters from engaging in violence or hate speech while at the polling stations and has directed them to ensure compliance with the electoral laws.

Albertine region police spokesperson has maintained that security is ready to deal with anyone who will jeopardise peace before, during, and after the election and appealed to candidates, their agents, and supporters to strictly follow the guidelines issued by the electoral commission.

The LC1 chairperson elections are conducted through the open voting system, where voters line up behind a candidate, the candidate’s agent, portrait, or symbol.

The elections are a key stage in Uganda’s electoral cycle because LC1 chairpersons serve as the first link between citizens and government. They oversee community security, mediate disputes, verify official documents, mobilize residents for government programmes, and coordinate local development initiatives.