Local Council One (LC I) chairpersons in Tororo Municipality have welcomed plans to finally conduct village elections, saying prolonged delays have strained relations between leaders and residents and hindered service delivery at the grassroots.
Evelyn Achwo, LC I Chairperson of Agururu B2 Cell in Western Division, is among the district’s longest-serving village leaders, having held office for nearly ten years after assuming the position following the death of his predecessor.
He said repeated postponements of village elections have weakened public confidence in local leadership. Residents, he noted, have increasingly questioned the legitimacy of leaders whose mandates have long expired, making it difficult to mobilize communities and deliver services effectively.
“Even when you call for a meeting, people say, ‘After all, you are leaving soon, what are you going to tell us?’ This has slowed down service delivery,” Achwo said.
Fredrick Owori, another long-serving LC I chairperson, also welcomed the planned elections, describing them as timely. He expressed confidence in retaining his seat, citing infrastructure improvements achieved during his tenure.
“I have done a lot for my people. Road connectivity here was very poor, but since I came into office, it has improved. That is why you can reach this place easily today. I am not scared of the coming elections,” Owori said.
However, some local leaders acknowledge that prolonged delays have fueled public frustration, with sections of the population openly calling for new leadership.
hey believe the elections will help restore trust and bridge the growing gap between leaders and communities.
Okoth John Martin, Secretary for Publicity of Bison A Cell, dismissed claims that current leaders have benefited personally from extended terms, arguing that their service has largely been voluntary.
“Some people say we have ‘eaten’ and should leave office, but what have we eaten apart from serving our people?” Okoth asked.
Concerns have also been raised about the use of Biometric Voter Verification Kits (BVVKs). Leaders cited challenges during recent elections, where failures in the biometric system allegedly created opportunities for electoral malpractice.
“In some areas where the biometric machines were not working, presiding officers were reportedly issuing three or four ballot papers,” Achwo claimed.
Owori questioned the reliability of the biometric system, saying its failures undermine public confidence in the electoral process.
“How can government spend so much money on biometric machines, only for them to fail? That is why some people question the credibility of elections when the machines stop working,” he said.
As preparations for the long-awaited village elections continue, LC I chairpersons are calling on the Electoral Commission to ensure the polls are conducted without further postponements.
They say timely and credible elections are critical to restoring public trust and improving service delivery at the grassroots.
