The Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) has implored the Government to ensure that LC elections take place. This was in response to the government's alleged stand to indefinitely suspend the LC1 and LC2 over a lack of funds to hold them.

Speaking at UPC headquarters in Kampala on Wednesday, party spokesperson Sharon Arach Oyat said: "Even at this late hour, the Government should do all it takes to ensure that the elections take place.

“If supplementary budgets are put in place for other activities, how about an issue of national interest like this? The budget should be tailored towards meeting this need,” she said, adding that failure to hold the elections will complicate government and leadership goals.

“These LCs play a crucial role. They are the immediate connection of leadership for the local people in our communities. It will create a big gap there,” Oyat said.

Furthermore, she highlighted that the Government risks grappling with court cases from the aggrieved leaders, noting that the possibility of having ‘ghost’ leaders in power is highly likely.

“We risk having ghost leaders just like the many ghost workers we have in hospitals and schools,” she said.

However, New Vision Online could not independently verify her allegations about the many ghost workers in hospitals and schools.

Oyat expressed worry that the suspension of the LC elections would consequently affect the special interest group elections.

Student loan scheme

Oyat advised the government to allow those who have benefited from the student loan scheme to access their transcripts so as to gain employment and pay back their pending debts.

“How will they be able to pay the debts when they have no source of income?’’ she said.

She added that withholding transcripts from students who were already vulnerable because they opted for the scheme would not address the challenge at hand.

In addition, Oyat advised universities to establish memoranda of understanding with the government so that students could access their transcripts.