Hajjat Namyalo Commends EC Over Peaceful Local Government Elections

By Gad Masereka

Hajjat Hadijah Namyalo Uzeiye, the Manager of the Office of the National Chairman, stepped into the voting booth on Tuesday morning with a message that went beyond her ballot, offering a snapshot of how the 2026 local government elections are unfolding in the capital.

Casting her vote at Goodwill Zone polling station in Nsambya Central, Makindye Division, Namyalo described an exercise she said was notably calm, efficient and reflective of gradual improvements in Uganda’s electoral management.

After voting, she took time to observe activity at the polling station, where voters moved through the process with little interruption. She attributed the smooth flow largely to the improved performance of the Biometric Voter Verification machines, which have been a persistent source of complaints in past elections. This time, she said, the technology worked as intended, allowing voters to be verified quickly and without confusion.

“The process today has been smooth and swift,” Namyalo said, noting that she was verified and cleared to vote without delay. In her view, the absence of technical hitches marked a positive contrast with challenges reported during the recent presidential and parliamentary polls, and suggested lessons had been taken on board by election managers.

She also praised the general organisation of the vote, saying the orderly atmosphere at polling stations pointed to growing public trust in the system.

According to Namyalo, the calm scenes were an indication that electoral processes at the local government level are becoming more predictable and less tense, a development she said was critical for sustaining democratic participation.

As Kampala residents voted for division councillors and mayors, Namyalo expressed confidence in the performance of the ruling National Resistance Movement, citing what she described as visible enthusiasm among voters. From the polling stations she visited, she said, there were clear signs of support for NRM candidates, particularly in areas where the party has recently made political inroads.

The local government elections form an important layer of the broader 2026 electoral cycle, shaping leadership at the city division and municipal levels.

Electoral Commission figures show a crowded field, with 325 candidates contesting 56 municipality and city division chairperson seats, alongside more than 5,000 candidates vying for directly elected and women councillor positions across urban areas.

For the NRM, the contests are seen as an opportunity to consolidate gains made in recent elections. In the parliamentary polls, the party secured three seats in Kampala, four in Wakiso including the district chairperson seat, and one LC5 position in Mukono, although the National Unity Platform retained a strong grip on parliamentary representation in Mukono.

The balance of power at the city council level remains competitive. In last week’s council elections, NRM candidates won eight directly elected councillor seats in Kampala, while NUP secured 17 seats and the Lord Mayoral position.

Special interest group councillor slots, representing youth, workers, older persons and persons with disabilities, have traditionally favoured the ruling party and are expected to further shape council dynamics.

In Makindye Division, the mayoral contest took a different turn, with NRM’s Yasin Omari declared unopposed after the Electoral Commission disqualified 11 candidates. Omari, who has been serving as Muyenga LC1 chairperson, now awaits formal swearing in.

As voting continues across the city, the focus remains on turnout, transparency and the credibility of results.