What exactly is the role of an LC1 chairperson?

Jul 11, 2018

The law provides that the village executive committees headed by the chairperson are expected to assist in the maintenance of law, order and security.

PIC: Kizza Sseninde flanked by his wife Minister Rosemary Sseninde and his supporters, celebrate after his victory in the LC1 Ssenyomo B race. (Credit: Samuel Lutwama)

POLITICS


KAMPALA - Ugandans elected their village leaders (LC1 chairpersons) on Tuesday, with lots of expectations from them.

But what exactly is expected of the LC1 chairpersons and their village executive committees?

Benjamin Kumumanya, the permanent secretary in the local government ministry, recently said elected LC1 chairpersons and their executive members will help in monitoring and supervising government programmes.

He said the chairpersons will be facilitated with sh120,000 annually and also trained for capacity building.

 

 

According to Article 50 of the Local Governments Act 1997 (amended in 2015), the village committee, which is headed by the village (LC1) chairperson, shall oversee the implementation of policies and decisions made by its council.

The Act also provides that the village executive committees headed by the chairperson are expected to assist in the maintenance of law, order and security, as well as initiate, encourage, support and participate in self-help projects and mobilise people, material and technical assistance in relation to self-help projects.

The executive is also expected to vet and recommend persons in the area who should be recruited into the Uganda People's Defence Forces, the Uganda Police Force and the Uganda Prisons Service.

It is further expected to serve as the communication channel between the Government, the district or higher local council and the people in the area.

Among other functions, the executive, according to the Act, is expected to monitor projects and other activities undertaken by the Government, local governments and non-governmental organisations in their area.

 




In Soroti town, independent candidate Francis Opio was re-elected the LC1 chaiperson of Ogasia Cell



Chairperson's role

The chairperson is expected to preside over meetings of the council and monitor the general administration of the area under their jurisdiction.

The election of the new LC1 chairpersons across the country will see the reoperationalisation of the village and parish courts across the country for local administration of justice on civil disputes.

The move according to the local government ministry, is aimed at reducing case backlog in formal courts and to decongest prisons.

Village courts derive their mandate from the Constitution, the Local Councils Courts Act 2006, the Local Councils Courts Regulations 2007 and the Local Governments Act CAP 243.

The village and parish courts, according to the local government ministry, have the jurisdiction to handle cases relating to debts (not exceeding sh2m), contracts, assaults and battery, conversion, damage to property, trespass, disputes in respect to customary land, civil disputes governed by customary law (customary land, marriage divorce and inheritance).

The courts also have jurisdiction over causes and matters arising out of infringement of bye-laws or ordinances and cases of civil nature involving children.

However, critics doubted that the new village courts will be fair since members are elected by one person — the chairperson — unlike in the 1990s where all village council members would be elected under adult sufferage.

Local government minister Tom Butime was asked whether the courts will be impartial.

"I have no doubt these courts will be independent, the chairperson appointing members of these courts does not mean they will not be independent. Does the President not appoint the Chief Justice, does that mean that he takes orders from him?"

 

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