Local Council I chairpersons in Fort Portal City have asked the government to increase their ex-gratia allowances and provide better facilitation, saying the current payments are insufficient to support their work at the community level. Their concerns come after Electoral Commission Chairperson Simon Byabakama announced that LC1 elections will be held on July 28 across the country.
Uganda last held LC1 elections in 2018. Although the five-year term of the village leaders expired in 2023, the elections were delayed, allowing the chairpersons to remain in office beyond their mandate. The chairpersons say they perform several responsibilities, including resolving community disputes, verifying residents, witnessing land transactions, mobilizing communities for government programmes, and supporting local security efforts, yet they receive only Shs10,000 as monthly ex-gratia.
Friday Kisembo, an LC1 chairperson, asked the government to increase the allowance to at least Shs100,000 per month, saying the current payment does not match the workload of village leaders. He welcomed the upcoming elections and urged residents to participate and elect leaders of their choice. Lawrence Kwikiriza, the LC1 chairperson of Nyakabale-Bukwali Village, also welcomed the announcement but called for improved welfare of grassroots leaders. Besides increasing allowances, Kwikiriza asked the government to provide motorcycles to help LC1 chairpersons move across their villages while carrying out official duties.
Joseph Makume, a resident of Bukwali Village, said LC1 leaders are the foundation of Uganda’s leadership structure because they are the closest government representatives to citizens. He said village chairpersons play an important role in community matters, especially land transactions, where they help verify residents before land deals are completed.
Hussein Kabiito from Njara Ward said the elections are overdue, adding that some leaders who have stayed in office for long have started abusing their positions. However, Kabiito raised concern about the voting system where voters line up behind candidates instead of using secret ballots, saying it could create divisions among community members.Robert Musinguzi urged residents to take the elections seriously, noting that voter turnout for LC1 elections has traditionally been low despite the importance of the positions.
The Electoral Commission says the upcoming elections are aimed at filling village leadership positions and renewing the mandate of grassroots leaders across the country-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
