The Electoral Commission has raised concern over the low participation of women in grassroots leadership elections and the growing influence of money in local politics, warning that both trends could undermine democratic representation and accountability at the community level.

Electoral officials are now calling for increased citizen participation, issue-based campaigns, and greater involvement of women as Uganda prepares for village-level elections scheduled to begin next month.

As preparations intensify for the upcoming village elections, the Electoral Commission says meaningful citizen participation remains critical in strengthening democracy and local governance across the country.

However, electoral officials have identified low female participation and vote-buying as some of the major challenges that continue to affect grassroots elections.

Addressing journalists in Kabale District, the Electoral Commission Regional Election Officer for South Western Uganda covering Ankole and Kigezi, Robert Beine, expressed concern over the limited number of women contesting for leadership positions at the village level.

He noted that elections for women's committees and women's councils often attract few candidates, with many women either reluctant to contest or persuaded by others to take up leadership positions.

Beine said increasing women's participation in local leadership remains essential in promoting inclusive governance and ensuring that community issues affecting women are adequately represented.

He encouraged more women to actively participate in the electoral process both as candidates and voters.

The electoral official also warned against the increasing commercialization of politics, describing the influence of money in elections as a growing threat to democratic processes at the grassroots level.

According to Beine, poverty and economic vulnerability in many communities often expose voters to financial inducements during election periods.

He urged voters to elect leaders based on their character, competence, and development agendas rather than financial incentives.

Beine further explained that local council elections have now been aligned with the national electoral cycle, a move expected to improve efficiency and reduce the cost of conducting elections.

He revealed that Uganda currently has 71,214 villages, of which 9,673 are located in the South Western Uganda region comprising Ankole and Kigezi.

Beine emphasized that no new villages have been created under the current electoral roadmap and urged all eligible citizens to register in their respective villages and actively participate in the electoral process.

Voters were also reminded that the elections will be conducted using the lining-up voting method rather than secret ballot voting.

Under the Electoral Commission roadmap, elections for women's committees and women's councils will be held on July 23, 2026, followed by LC I committee elections on July 28 and LC II committee elections on August 10.

As the country heads into another electoral cycle, the Electoral Commission says stronger citizen participation, increased women's representation, and issue-based politics will be critical in building accountable and effective leadership from the grassroots level.