Hajjat Namyalo Casts Vote in Kampala, Hails Peaceful 2026 Local Government Elections

Namyalo voted at Goodwill Zone polling station in Nsambya Central, Makindye Division, where she described the voting process as smooth, orderly, and efficiently managed.

Addressing journalists after voting, Namyalo praised the Electoral Commission (EC) for improving the administration of elections, particularly highlighting the improved performance of the Biometric Voter Verification (BVVK) machines.

“The process has been fast and well organised,” she said. “Compared to the challenges experienced during previous presidential and parliamentary elections, the BVVK machines are functioning properly. My details were verified without delay.”

She further commended the general organisation of the 2026 local government elections, noting that polling stations she observed were calm and peaceful—an indication, she said, of increasing public trust in the electoral process.

Namyalo also expressed confidence in the ruling National Resistance Movement’s (NRM) performance in the capital, citing voter turnout and what she described as visible support for the party’s candidates across Kampala.

“From what I have seen, there is strong enthusiasm for the NRM, with many voters coming out to support the party,” she said.

The local government polls are part of Uganda’s broader 2026 electoral cycle, through which voters are electing leaders at the municipality, city division, and councillor levels.

According to the Electoral Commission, 325 candidates were nominated for 56 municipality and city division chairperson positions, while 3,313 candidates are contesting 888 directly elected councillor seats. An additional 1,833 candidates are vying for 626 women councillor slots.

The NRM is seeking to consolidate recent electoral gains in the central region. In the last parliamentary elections, the party won three seats in Kampala, four in Wakiso—including the district chairperson seat—and one LC5 seat in Mukono. However, the National Unity Platform (NUP) swept all parliamentary seats in Mukono.

Results from last week’s local government council elections showed the NRM securing eight directly elected councillor seats in Kampala, while NUP won 17 seats and retained the Lord Mayoral position.

Special interest group councillor seats—representing youth, workers, older persons, and persons with disabilities—have traditionally been dominated by the NRM.

In Makindye Division, the mayoral race ended with NRM candidate Yasin Omari declared unopposed after the Electoral Commission disqualified 11 contenders. Omari, the current Muyenga LC1 chairperson, is expected to be sworn in.