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On 12th March 2026, during a parliamentary sitting presided over by Anita Among, the Minister of State for Local Government, Victoria Rusoke, assured the nation that long-overdue Local Council I and II elections would be held by the end of April. Yet beneath this promise lies a deeper constitutional crisis—one that strikes at the very heart of Uganda’s rule of law, democratic governance, and the sovereignty of its people.
A Constitution Ignored
The 1995 Constitution of Uganda, under Article 176, establishes local governments as a cornerstone of decentralisation, democracy, and citizen participation. It envisions a system where leaders derive their legitimacy directly from the people through periodic elections.
However, the Local Council I and II leaders currently in office were elected in 2018. Their constitutional mandate expired in 2023. Since then, their tenure has been extended repeatedly—now six times—without fresh electoral endorsement. This persistent postponement is not merely an administrative delay; it is a constitutional violation.
The Law Speaks Clearly
Under the Local Governments Act, Cap 243, the structure, roles, and tenure of Local Councils are clearly defined:
Yet across Uganda today, these provisions are openly disregarded. In many villages, chairpersons have died, resigned, or become inactive. Vice chairpersons have either overstayed beyond the legally permitted six months, or power has irregularly shifted to general secretaries—an office not constitutionally mandated to assume such authority. This is governance in legal limbo.
Governance Without Legitimacy
The continued operation of LC I and II structures beyond their constitutional lifespan raises a fundamental question: can authority exist without legitimacy?
The doctrine of consent of the governed, a foundational principle of democratic governance, demands that leaders derive authority from the people through regular elections. When leaders remain in power beyond their mandate, they transition from representatives to mere occupants of office.
The legality of their current actions—whether in dispute resolution, land matters, or implementation of government programmes—becomes highly questionable. Every stamp, signature, and decision risks being challenged as lacking lawful authority.
A Denial of Political Rights
The repeated postponement of these elections directly infringes on the political rights of Ugandans, particularly the youth. The right to choose one’s leaders—and to be chosen—is a fundamental freedom embedded in democratic systems.
Since 2018, a new generation has matured—educated, politically aware, and eager to lead. Yet they remain locked out of grassroots governance. The stagnation of leadership has created a generational bottleneck, where elderly incumbents continue to dominate structures that should reflect evolving societal needs.
This is not merely a delay; it is systematic exclusion.
The Constitutional Right to Vote and to Be Voted For
The Constitution of Uganda is explicit on political participation and electoral rights. Under Article 59, every citizen of Uganda aged eighteen years and above has the right to vote. This right is not symbolic; it is a functional entitlement that must be exercised through regular, free, and fair elections.
Further, Article 38 guarantees every Ugandan the right to participate in the affairs of government, individually or through representatives of their own choosing. This provision underscores the principle that governance must reflect the will of the people, continuously renewed through elections.
Additionally, Article 72 provides for the right to form and participate in political organisations, reinforcing political inclusion and competition, while Article 1 firmly places all power in the hands of the people, to be exercised through regular elections or referenda.
When Local Council I and II elections are indefinitely postponed, these constitutional guarantees are rendered hollow. Citizens are denied not only the right to vote but also the right to be voted for. The absence of elections effectively suspends the political agency of the people at the most immediate level of governance.
The Politics of Convenience
One cannot ignore the political undertones surrounding this inertia. Local Councils I and II have historically served as grassroots mobilisation structures. Many incumbents are long-standing supporters of the ruling establishment, often less politically disruptive and more predictable in allegiance.
For the ruling party, maintaining the status quo presents minimal political risk. Change introduces uncertainty—particularly with a youth population that is increasingly vocal about unemployment, governance, and reform.
Thus, the delay begins to resemble not incapacity, but calculated convenience.
A Silent Opposition
Equally troubling is the conspicuous silence of the opposition. In any functioning democracy, such a blatant erosion of constitutional order would provoke sustained resistance—legal, political, and civic.
Yet, the absence of strong opposition advocacy on this issue has allowed the crisis to deepen unchecked. The defence of democracy cannot be selective; it must extend to the very foundations upon which national governance rests.
The Rule of Law at Stake
At its core, the rule of law demands that all persons and authorities—including the government—are subject to and accountable under the law.
The continuous postponement of LC elections represents a dangerous precedent:
If the law can be suspended at the village level, it can be suspended anywhere.
Conclusion: A Nation at a Crossroads
Uganda stands at a critical juncture. The delay of Local Council I and II elections is not a minor administrative issue—it is a constitutional fault line threatening the integrity of democratic governance.
The government must act decisively to restore legality by conducting elections without further delay. Anything less perpetuates illegitimacy and undermines the very foundation of the state.
For democracy does not collapse in dramatic upheavals; it erodes quietly—through postponed elections, extended mandates, and the slow normalisation of illegality. And when the village falls, the nation follows.
About the Author
Evan Sande Ndahura is a Ugandan political and legal commentator, columnist, poet, and social justice advocate whose writings focus on governance, constitutionalism, democracy, and the political economy of power in Africa. He writes from a Pan-African critical perspective, interrogating the failures of state institutions and the lived realities of ordinary citizens under entrenched systems of power. He believes that the liberation of Africa will occur through a mighty pen, not the gun.
Torch Media Africa
