Kampala, Uganda | The Government of Uganda has extended the tenure of Local Council I and Local Council II leaders by a further 180 days, according to a formal announcement published in The Uganda Gazette dated 24th June 2025.
This directive is outlined under General Notice No. 1759 of 2025, issued in accordance with Regulation 12(d) of the Local Government Councils Regulations.
The extension, printed in Volume CXVIII No. 51 of The Uganda Gazette (Extraordinary Issue), takes effect from 29th June 2025, following the expiry of the current term on 28th June 2025.
The notice, signed by Minister for Local Government Raphael Magyezi, informs the general public that the term of office for administrative unit councils Local Council I and II is extended for a period not exceeding 180 days from the date of expiry.
The purpose of this extension, according to the gazette, is to ensure continuity in the delivery of essential grassroots governance services while preparations for new elections are finalized.
This development comes at a time when concerns have been mounting over delayed LC elections, which the Electoral Commission attributes to financial and logistical challenges.
Sources within the Ministry of Local Government say the extension provides room for the Electoral Commission to mobilize resources and resolve ongoing legal and procedural gaps before conducting fresh polls.
Local Council I and II leaders are central to Uganda’s decentralized governance model.
They are responsible for handling land matters, mobilizing communities, managing local disputes, and keeping household records at the village and parish levels.
Their absence, legal experts say, could leave a vacuum in community-level administration.
The last LC elections were held in 2018, through a controversial lining-up system where voters physically queued behind candidates.
Though efficient in cost, the method faced criticism from human rights defenders and civil society, prompting calls for reform to align with constitutional voting principles.
With this official extension now on record through The Uganda Gazette, the government is expected to move swiftly to address the pending electoral process.
However, observers warn that continued delays beyond the 180-day window could undermine public confidence in local governance and weaken accountability mechanisms at the grassroots level.
