Kayunga District Kicks Off Local Council Voter Registration Amidst Boundary Clarifications

The Electoral Commission (EC) in Kayunga District has officially commenced voter registration for the Local Council I (LC I) elections, slated for July 28. The exercise began smoothly across the district, with officials urging all eligible citizens to participate.

District Returning Officer Elizabeth Namirembe emphasized that only registered voters will be eligible to vote in the forthcoming village elections. “We call upon all eligible voters to register within the stipulated period because only those whose names appear on the voters’ register will participate in the LC I elections,” stated Namirembe.

However, the process encountered some confusion, particularly in Kisaba Village (Kayunga Town Council) and a village in Kayonza Sub-county. Residents expressed concern over not being recognized as separate administrative units during registration, believing their villages had been split and should have independent voter registers.

Namirembe addressed these concerns, explaining that the EC lacks the legal authority to create or recognize new villages. This responsibility rests with the local government, which must issue an official administrative instrument. “The Electoral Commission does not split villages. That responsibility lies with the local government, which must issue an administrative instrument confirming the creation of a new village before we can include it in our electoral register,” she clarified.

She further explained that as of June 1, when preparations for registration began, the EC had not received the necessary administrative instruments for the two newly proposed villages. Therefore, for EC purposes, these residents remain part of the existing administrative units. Namirembe urged residents in affected areas to register within their current villages to ensure they are not disenfranchised while the administrative matters are resolved.

Kayunga District comprises nine sub-counties, four town councils, and 407 villages, all of which are involved in the current voter registration drive. The EC is encouraging all eligible residents to verify their details and register promptly, as the voter register will be the foundation for the upcoming village leadership elections.

Source: Nile Post