Government seeks extension of local council elections

Attorney General Kiryowa Kiwanuka stated that it will take three months to put everything in place before the LC elections.

He stated that after submitting this to the committee, the Ministry of Local Government will be in a position to advise Parliament at the right time when it returns from recess following Speaker Anita Among's indefinite suspension last Thursday. Both LC I and II tenures concluded on July 10, 2023.

"The Cabinet decided to ask Parliament to agree with the Executive to extend the LCs' terms for another six months. "To have an election, you must first register and then show. We've already lost a month, as you know, so the six months will begin on July 10th," Kiryowa explained.

However, several members of the opposition have expressed discontent with the Attorney General's position.

"We think there are some games being played," says Shamim Malende, the shadow attorney general.

She added, "We are not satisfied with the Attorney General's assertion that the government was not prepared. They are requesting an extension, but we have no choice because the term has already expired."

The opposition shadow cabinet gave the Government a 30-day ultimatum to hold elections for the local councils (LCI and LCII) across the country.

The LCI and II chairpersons' terms of office expired on July 10th.

Earlier, the Electoral Commission said it was unable to organise the elections this month because of a lack of funds.

The Commission said it had asked for Sh90 billion for the elections. Of this, only Sh36 billion was provided by the Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development.

In a press conference on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, at Parliament, the shadow cabinet, led by Ethel Naluyima, a Wakiso District woman Member of Parliament (MP) and shadow minister for local government, said that because village and parish chairpersons play such an important role in society, their positions cannot be vacant for very long.