Kitgum records 2,025 unopposed women's council candidates
According to Kitgum district returning officer Betty Atim Owot, the district has a total of 3,430 Women's Council positions spread across its villages. Of these, 2,025 positions were filled unopposed, while 1,000 positions received no nominations.
Kitgum Electoral Returning Officer Betty Atim Owot (in green) declares the election winner at her office in Kitgum District. (Photo by Christopher Nyeko)
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At least 2,025 Village Women's Council positions in Kitgum district have been filled unopposed, while another 1,000 remain vacant after failing to attract any candidates, highlighting low participation in the grassroots elections.
The Electoral Commission said elections on Thursday (July 23) were held in only 405 of Kitgum's 686 villages, where the positions attracted more than one candidate.
According to Kitgum district returning officer Betty Atim Owot, the district has a total of 3,430 Women's Council positions spread across its villages. Of these, 2,025 positions were filled unopposed, while 1,000 positions received no nominations.
Atim attributed the low level of competition to limited interest in most of the executive positions. While the chairperson position attracted relatively more contestants, the offices of vice chairperson, secretary for finance, general secretary and secretary for publicity attracted very few candidates.
She said the National Resistance Movement (NRM) fielded the highest number of candidates, followed by the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) and the Uganda People's Congress (UPC), while several other political parties did not participate in the exercise.
With hundreds of positions left vacant, Atim said she would seek guidance from the chairperson of the Electoral Commission on how the remaining positions would be filled.
Meanwhile, Innocent Geoffrey Nyero, the NRM administrator for Kitgum district, maintained that the party had identified candidates for all 3,430 Women's Council positions across the district.
Nyero said the party still has prospective candidates ready and is awaiting guidance from the Electoral Commission on the next course of action.
However, Peter Opoka Opika, the Democratic Party (DP) chairperson for Kitgum district, accused the Electoral Commission of failing to adequately mobilise and inform the public about the elections.
He argued that unlike previous general elections, where political parties received official roadmaps and formal communication, there was no structured engagement for the Village Women's Council elections.
Opika also criticised the commission's reliance on radio announcements, noting that many households in Kitgum do not own radios.
He said the Electoral Commission should have used its grassroots structures to sensitise communities about the elections and educate women on the responsibilities attached to the various leadership positions.
According to Opika, the lack of public awareness may have discouraged many eligible women from seeking elective office, contributing to the high number of unopposed and vacant positions.
NRM dominates as opposition struggles
The lining-up method appeared to favour the ruling party in many areas, where NRM supporters mobilised early and voted as a bloc, giving the party's candidates a clear advantage.
In contrast, candidates backed by opposition parties experienced mixed fortunes. In several villages, leading opposition candidates suffered heavy defeats after witnessing the overwhelming support for NRM candidates, dampening hopes of securing victories in the grassroots polls.
In many villages, NRM supporters, confident of their numerical strength, rallied behind all five party candidates for the Women's Council executive positions.
Voting was closely monitored by NRM village chairpersons, who coordinated party supporters throughout the exercise.
In Green Valley cell, Bardege-Layibi division, Gulu city, one independent candidate withdrew from the race after realising that her NRM opponent commanded significantly greater support during the lining-up process.
Following her withdrawal, the NRM candidate was declared elected unopposed.
The village women's council elections were conducted using the lining-up voting method, where voters publicly queued behind the candidate of their choice instead of casting secret ballots.
The system, unique to Uganda's Local Council elections, has often drawn both praise for its simplicity and criticism over concerns about voter privacy and intimidation.