Local council ones (LC1s) in the Arua district have vowed to continue with their normal duties despite the expiry of their term in office. 

The LC1s marked five years in office as they were elected on July 10, 2018. Before that 17 years went by without holding local council elections and on July 17, LC2s’ terms of office will equally expire. 

The Electoral Commission (EC) needs sh59b to prepare for the elections which the finance ministry says it doesn’t have.         

The local government ministry is preparing a statutory instrument to extend the mandate of LC1s and LC2s, and on Monday, July 10, Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja was tasked to chair a high-level political team by President Yoweri Museveni with the primary task of creating operational guidelines for their continued stay in office. 

The LC1 chairperson for Arua Hospital Cell in Arua City, David Asizua, said the government should always organise early elections of LC1s and LC2s just like they plan for other general elections. 

“We are the first government at the grassroots and therefore we need to be prioritised like other leaders in this country by planning for our elections,” he said. 

Faridah Eyotaru, the LC1 chairperson for Oluodri Cell, said they are ready to continue work even if elections are not held. 

“The communities will still cry for services if we say our term of office has expired. I don’t know how they’re going to take it,” she said. 

Eyotaru added that the government needs to make a pronouncement for them to continue with their duties normally. 

She also asked city authorities to meet and inform them about any pronouncements from the central government.  

The LC1 chairman for Igara A Village in Arua district, William Nguma, said the government should have availed the information earlier to avoid the current confusion in the country. 

“The government should give solutions in advance so that they know their stand,” he said. 

The LC2 chairman for Kenya Ward, Sammary Ijaga, said they will operate normally even if the government fails to hold elections. 

“There was a time when we never had elections for LC1s but we operated normally and even the President recognised us in the events that we would host,” he said.