One Vote, Lasting Impact: Why LC I Elections Should Never Be Ignored

What the report says

Dokolo Post reported that, as Uganda prepares for Local Council I and Women Council elections, Lira Assistant Resident City Commissioner Bonny Otucu has urged voters to treat the grassroots polls as central to everyday governance. In an opinion piece, Otucu argued that LC I leaders are often the elected officials citizens engage with most directly, especially on village and cell-level matters such as local security, land and family disputes, community mobilisation and certification of documents.

According to the article, Otucu described the LC I structure as the base of Uganda’s decentralised administration and said capable leaders can influence service delivery, peace and development. He linked the role to mobilisation for government and community initiatives including the Parish Development Model, Emyooga, immunisation, sanitation and environmental conservation, as well as coordination with agencies to help services reach intended beneficiaries.

Otucu also warned that weak or self-interested local leadership can contribute to insecurity, poor implementation of programmes, corruption, conflict and low participation in development activities. He called on voters to avoid choosing candidates on the basis of personal ties, tribe, religion, party loyalty or financial inducements, and instead consider integrity, competence, accessibility, discipline and commitment to public service.

The Dokolo Post piece further said Otucu appealed for peaceful campaigning and voting in Lira City and across Uganda. He encouraged citizens to report electoral offences such as intimidation, bribery, violence, impersonation, hate speech, misinformation and destruction of election materials to the Electoral Commission or security agencies, while also urging communities to stay engaged after polling through village meetings, support for elected leaders and demands for accountability.