Government Declares Tuesday Public Holiday to enable Ugandans to participate in the village council elections|Vok news

The Minister of Local Government has urged citizens to turn up in big numbers to vote in the upcoming Local Council elections. The call follows criticism from different sections of the public condemning the decision by the government to conduct local council elections by voters lining behind their preferred candidates.

Addressing journalists today at the Uganda Media Center in Kampala, Minister Tom Butime highlighted the importance of citizens' participation in the Local Council elections. He explained that the elections will help address the constitutional and administrative challenges the country has been facing at the grass root level.

Butime said that the election of local council leaders is to help strengthen monitoring and supervision of service delivery by political leaders. He also noted that the local council leaders are to strengthen the local administration of justice through the local council courts.Butime wants the voters to exercise their mandate and elect competent leaders. 

Elections for local council leaders are due on July 10, according to a roadmap released by the Electoral Commission.  The day has since been declared a public holiday to allow all Ugandans to participate in the elections.  Uganda last held local council elections in 2001.