A dispute over the disappearance of the official stamp for Lwempaama Village in Lwengo District has sparked tension among residents, with accusations that the absence of the stamp has denied them access to essential administrative services just weeks before the village council elections.
Residents on Tuesday gathered at the office of LC1 Chairperson Vincent Bingo, demanding answers over the whereabouts of the village stamp, which they say has been missing for several months.
The residents said the missing stamp has affected their ability to obtain recommendation letters needed for employment, travel, and other official transactions.
"We no longer receive the services we deserve because whenever we ask for official documents, we are told there is no village stamp. Government should intervene immediately before this situation gets out of hand," one resident said.
They argued that the absence of the stamp has not only paralysed village administration but has also created room for disorder since official village matters cannot be properly documented and processed.
Some residents threatened to boycott the upcoming LC1 elections if the issue is not resolved.
"If the government cannot restore normal leadership in our village, we shall have no reason to participate in the elections," another resident warned.
However, LC1 Chairperson Vincent Bingo defended himself, saying the stamp was taken away after village chairpersons were instructed to surrender their stamps for verification.
"We were ordered to return all village stamps so they could be verified and later returned to us. When I went back to collect ours, I was denied the stamp," Bingo said.
He dismissed allegations of misusing the official stamp, saying he had served as village chairperson for four decades without any such complaints.
"I have served as LC1 chairperson for 40 years. Throughout that period, I have never misused the village stamp. Since it was taken away, my work has been brought to a standstill," he said.
The dispute has also spilled into the ongoing election campaigns, with one of the candidates for the LC1 chairperson position, David Muhereza, expressing concern about the fairness of the electoral process.
"We are worried that the election could already be compromised. We appeal to the responsible authorities to ensure justice for every candidate," Muhereza said.
However, Lwengo Sub-county Chairperson Lawrence Kizito dismissed the allegations, saying the stamp is not in his possession but is being held by the Sub-county Chief.
"The village stamp is in the custody of the Sub-county Chief. It was retained because of reports of illegal activities involving village administration," Kizito said.
He further claimed that the stamp presented by local leaders was not the official government-issued one.
"The stamp that was presented was not the original government-issued stamp," he added.
The Lwempaama Village LC1 chairperson race has attracted three candidates: incumbent Vincent Bingo, David Muhereza, and Hamza Kasozi.
The dispute comes as Uganda prepares for village council elections scheduled for August 23 to August 28, 2026, raising concerns among residents over whether the electoral process in Lwempaama will be conducted in a peaceful, transparent, and fair manner.
