The Ministry of Local Government has explained that the Local Council One elections were postponed because the government hasn’t yet got funds for the polls.
Cabinet last month gave a green light to the extension of the term of office for both LC1 and LC2 offices as well as women councils for another period of 180 days starting January 6, 2024.
Addressing journalists on Wednesday, the Minister for Local Government, Raphael Magyezi explained that the notice of this extension has been gazetted after receiving the necessary prior approval of Cabinet on December 18, 2023.
“The extension is justified based on inadequate funding and other logistics for the elections. It is extremely difficult to conduct elections of the administrative units without adequate resources at the moment,” Magyezi said.
The Electoral Commission recently said it requires at least shs56 billion to hold these elections.
It was recently reported that the Ministry of Finance had released the money for the polls.
However, the Minister for Local Government said the Electoral Commission is yet to receive these funds.
Minister Magyezi on Wednesday said the elections have also been postponed to allow the government to harmonise administrative units.
“The ministry is in the process of updating the list of all administrative units in the county, in liaison with the relevant government agencies and local authorities. Without clarity of numbers, names, and boundaries of the administrative units, it is not possible to conduct the elections,” Magyezi said.
“Government is committed to holding the elections of the local councils as soon as it is practicable and will inform the country of the programme and roadmap for the elections in due course.”
