KAMPALA, Uganda – Members of Parliament are questioning the government over delays in funding long-overdue local council and women council elections, as concerns grow over repeated term extensions and low pay for grassroots leaders.
Dr. Kefa Kiwanuka (Kiboga East, NRM) raised the issue, asking the government to explain why funds have not been released despite earlier assurances that polls would be held between March and April 2026.
“Has money for the elections been secured as planned and announced by the Electoral Commission? What are the actual dates, since time has moved?” Kiwanuka said, noting that more than 10,000 villages have been preparing for the votes.
He also raised concerns about pay for local council leaders, arguing that compensation is too low to attract competent officials. Kiwanuka said LC1 chairpersons reportedly earn about 10,000 shillings per month, which he described as inadequate for handling land disputes, domestic violence cases, security matters and community mobilization.
Third Deputy Prime Minister Rukia Nakadama said Local Government Minister Raphael Magyezi had prepared a Cabinet paper seeking funding approval for the elections through a supplementary budget.
State Minister for Finance Amos Lugoloobi told Parliament that discussions on the supplementary budget were ongoing and not yet finalized. He said the government had temporarily halted consideration of Supplementary Schedule No. 5 pending consultations on priority expenditures, including electoral funding.
Speaker of Parliament Anita Among indicated during plenary on April 15, 2026, that the supplementary budget was ready for tabling, noting that 55 billion shillings had been earmarked for LC1, LC2 and women council election committees, pending parliamentary approval.
The debate follows four extensions of LC1 and LC2 leaders’ mandates due to repeated election delays. In a Dec. 18, 2024, notice, Magyezi extended the term for administrative unit councils by up to 180 days beyond Dec. 31, 2024, citing funding shortfalls and the need to avoid a leadership vacuum.
Government officials have previously said the Electoral Commission needs about 50 billion shillings to conduct the elections, but funds were not immediately available from the Ministry of Finance.
MPs are pressing the government to provide a clear election timetable, along with firm financing assurances and improved remuneration for local council leaders.
