EC sets March 12 for repeat LC elections in affected areas

KAMPALA – The Electoral Commission (EC) has rescheduled repeat elections for sub-county, town council and municipal division local government councils in electoral areas where polling was not conducted or concluded during the February 4, 2026, exercise.

According to the commission, the elections, which had earlier been planned for February 26, will now take place on Thursday, March 12, 2026.

In a notice issued to the public, the commission said the decision was taken to allow additional time for administrative and logistical preparations ahead of the vote.

“The rescheduling has been made to provide more time for the various administrative and logistical preparations, and to cater for all affected electoral areas, including those where fresh nominations have been conducted due to the death of some candidates,” the commission said.

The elections will fill several local government leadership positions that remained vacant after polling either failed to take place or could not be completed in some electoral areas during the earlier exercise.

Positions to be contested include chairpersons, directly elected councillors, women councillors, and councillors representing special interest groups, including youths, older persons and persons with disabilities (PWDs).

Polling will take place at all designated polling stations in the affected areas across the country. In cases involving special interest group representatives, voting will also take place at designated electoral college venues.

Voting is scheduled to begin at 7:00am and close at 4:00pm, after which vote counting will begin immediately at the respective polling stations.

EC noted that results will be declared at the polling stations in accordance with the relevant electoral laws governing local government elections.

The repeat elections are part of the commission’s mandate to ensure that electoral processes are completed in all affected areas where voting was disrupted or could not be finalised.

Uganda has, in recent weeks, been conducting local government council elections at various levels following the conclusion of nominations earlier this year.

However, some electoral areas were unable to complete the process due to logistical challenges and other circumstances that necessitated fresh nominations or repeat polling.
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In some instances, the electoral process had to be halted after the death of candidates, requiring the commission to reopen nominations before organising fresh elections.

The Electoral Commission said the new polling date is intended to ensure that all affected electoral areas are adequately prepared and that voters are able to elect their representatives without further disruption.

The commission has also called on voters, candidates and other stakeholders to observe the electoral guidelines during the exercise.

“The Electoral Commission urges all stakeholders and voters to participate peacefully and to comply with the electoral laws and guidelines,” the notice stated.

Local government councils play a key role in Uganda’s decentralised governance system, with leaders responsible for overseeing development planning, service delivery and community representation at the grassroots level.

Once the March 12 repeat elections are concluded, the commission expects all vacant leadership positions at the affected sub-county, town council and municipal division levels to be filled, allowing the councils to fully carry out their administrative functions.

The commission has urged voters in the affected electoral areas to turn up in large numbers and participate in the electoral process.