Four Decades of Service: Ibanda’s Longest-Serving LC1 Chairperson Secures Fifth Unopposed Term

What the report says

Nile Post reports that Swale Kyeyune, 75, has been declared unopposed for another term as Local Council One chairperson of Katoma I Cell in Kagongo Division, Ibanda Municipality. The outlet says Kyeyune has held the LC1 post since the mid-1980s and is now set for a fifth consecutive term after no rival was nominated ahead of village elections.

According to the report, Kyeyune’s long tenure has been associated by residents with availability, dispute resolution and local development advocacy. After being declared unopposed, he thanked residents for trusting him again and said he would continue to serve with fairness, honesty and integrity. He also linked his support to what he described as transparent and accountable leadership.

Nile Post says Kyeyune identified access to basic services as a priority for the new term, particularly rural electrification for communities that remain unconnected. Residents quoted by the outlet, including Sarah Nyakato and John Tumwesigye, said his experience, responsiveness and role in maintaining community stability were reasons many voters did not seek an alternative candidate.

The development comes as villages across Uganda prepare for LC1 elections, with the same report noting that other candidates in different districts have also been returned unopposed where no challengers emerged. LC1 chairpersons are the lowest formal layer of local government in Uganda and often handle village-level administration, mobilisation and mediation, making long-serving local leaders influential in day-to-day community governance.