As nominations for Local Council I (LC I) elections get underway across Uganda, an increasing number of young people in Fort Portal City are seeking village leadership positions, arguing that fresh ideas, integrity and innovation are needed to tackle corruption, unemployment and stalled community development.
The nomination of candidates for Local Council I (LC I) and Women Council elections began on Wednesday across the country, with Fort Portal City witnessing a notable increase in the number of young people seeking village leadership positions. The exercise will run until July 19 ahead of the elections scheduled for July 28.
Many of the youthful aspirants say they are motivated by a desire to improve accountability, combat corruption and accelerate development in communities they believe have stagnated under long-serving leaders.
Among them is 30-year-old James Ruhweza, who has been nominated to contest for the Kaihokwa Village chairperson seat in Central Division. Ruhweza first became an LC I chairperson at the age of 22 and is now seeking another term. He believes young leaders are better placed to introduce innovative solutions to community challenges.
He says his priorities include fighting land grabbing, eliminating corruption at the village level and protecting residents from illegal charges imposed by some local leaders. “Some village chairpersons connive with land grabbers to steal people’s land, while others illegally charge residents money to stamp documents. I want to stop such practices and restore integrity in local leadership,” Ruhweza said.
He also pledged to mobilize young people to embrace self-employment and take advantage of government livelihood programmes. In Busoma A Cell, North Division, another youthful aspirant, Charles Atugonza, said it is time for young people to move beyond being described as leaders of tomorrow and begin taking up leadership responsibilities today.
Although LC I chairpersons receive only a monthly allowance of ten thousand shillings without a salary, Atugonza said public service rather than financial gain inspired his decision to contest. He pledged to strengthen community mobilization and encourage greater youth participation in local development programmes.
In Kirasa Ward, North Division, 33-year-old Vincent Tumwesigye is contesting for the Kikula Cell LC I chairperson seat after what he describes as decades of stagnant leadership. According to Tumwesigye, the village has been under the same leadership for about 25 years but still lacks basic services, including electricity, piped water and improved roads. He said residents deserve leaders who can actively lobby for development projects and improve service delivery.
Women are also seeking greater representation in village leadership. Sarah Kawino, who is contesting for the Kitumba B Village chairperson seat in Central Division, said she returned to the race after losing in the previous elections because she believes women are equally capable of leading their communities.
She argued that years of male leadership have not delivered the expected development and promised to advocate for greater inclusion of women in government programmes such as Emyooga and the Parish Development Model (PDM).
According to Kawino, many women miss out on such initiatives because they receive little information or sensitization. She also encouraged more women to seek elective positions instead of leaving leadership to men. Meanwhile, 31-year-old Agnes Kabarozi is contesting for the Women Council chairperson seat in Harukoto A Village, Bazaar Ward, Central Division.
Kabarozi said empowering young women will be her main priority if elected. She noted that many young women face unemployment, single parenthood, domestic violence, depression, and heavy family responsibilities, challenges she says require stronger representation at the grassroots.
She believes her personal experiences as a young woman place her in a better position to advocate for policies and programmes that improve their livelihoods.
Residents have also welcomed the growing participation of young candidates. Ibrahim Musana, a resident of Kitarasa, said young people make up the majority of Uganda’s population and therefore deserve greater representation in leadership. He argued that youthful leaders better understand the challenges affecting their peers and can effectively mobilize them to benefit from government programmes.
Violet Nyangoma said some elderly LC I chairpersons struggle with literacy and have limited knowledge of government initiatives, affecting service delivery. She believes younger leaders possess the education, skills and innovation needed to improve governance at the village level.
LC I chairpersons are the first point of administration at the village level and play a key role in mobilizing communities, resolving local disputes, maintaining village records and implementing government programmes.
Although the positions attract only a modest monthly allowance, they remain politically influential because they serve as the closest link between citizens and government. There are signs across the country that this year’s elections have attracted an unusually high number of young aspirants across several districts, reflecting growing interest among Uganda’s youth in grassroots leadership and governance-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
