JEEMA Sets Ambitious Target for Local Council Elections

Kampala, Uganda, July 7, 2026 - The Justice Forum (JEEMA) has announced plans to win at least 65 per cent of Local Council I (LC1) and Local Council II (LC2) positions in Uganda’s upcoming grassroots elections, describing the polls as a key opportunity to drive political change from village-level leadership. The opposition party said it aims to secure victories in approximately 46,000 of Uganda’s 71,227 villages, arguing that control of local councils would strengthen citizen participation in governance and influence the country’s political direction. JEEMA accused the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) of dominating Uganda’s political and economic affairs for nearly four decades and urged voters to use the grassroots elections as an opportunity to support alternative leadership. The party’s spokesperson said village councils are central to local governance, playing important roles in areas such as land management, community security, healthcare access, and development planning. JEEMA also criticized rising public debt, resource management, and economic challenges affecting citizens, warning that current policies could create greater burdens for future generations. The party urged voters to reject vote buying, arguing that exchanging votes for short-term benefits undermines accountability and slows national development. It called on citizens to view their votes as a tool for demanding better leadership and public service delivery. JEEMA pledged to field candidates across all 71,227 villages and 10,595 parishes, either independently or in partnership with other democratic groups. Although acknowledging financial limitations, the party said it would support candidates through training, campaign guidance, and policy materials. The Electoral Commission has begun preparations for the long-delayed LC1 and LC2 elections, which are expected to restore elected grassroots leadership structures after years without fresh polls. The elections are considered a significant step in strengthening local governance ahead of Uganda’s next national electoral cycle.