By Lumpe Media
KAMPALA — The Manager of the Office of the National Chairman (ONC), Hajjat Hadijah Namyalo Uzeiye, has monitored the ongoing Local Council II (LC II) elections in Kampala, emphasizing the importance of peaceful, transparent and participatory elections at the grassroots.
Hajjat Namyalo, popularly known as Chief Muzzukulu, visited MTG Gogonya 2 Polling Station in Nsambya, where she observed the voting exercise and interacted with voters, election officials and other stakeholders involved in the electoral process.
Her visit formed part of efforts to follow up on the grassroots elections and ensure that the exercise is conducted in an orderly manner as communities choose leaders who will represent their interests at parish level.
At the polling station, Hajjat Namyalo observed the voting and subsequent tallying of votes, while engaging residents on the importance of exercising their civic responsibility. She also interacted with election officials to assess the conduct of the exercise and encouraged voters to maintain peace and respect the democratic process.
Following the completion of voting and tallying, Parish Election Officer Pyoto Rogers declared Lubowa Fred the winner of the LC II Chairperson race for Central Parish after obtaining 149 votes.
The result marked the conclusion of the electoral process at the polling station, with the successful candidate expected to take on the responsibility of representing residents and working with other local leaders to address community concerns.
The LC II elections are considered an important component of Uganda’s grassroots governance system. Parish-level leaders serve as a critical link between residents and the wider local government structure, helping communities articulate their needs, mobilise citizens and participate in local development programmes.
The leaders also have an important role in supporting community mobilisation around government initiatives, encouraging citizens to participate in development programmes and promoting accountability in the delivery of services.
For the National Resistance Movement (NRM), grassroots structures remain an important avenue through which government programmes and policies can reach ordinary citizens. Strong and accountable local leadership is therefore viewed as essential in ensuring that national development priorities translate into tangible improvements in communities.
Hajjat Namyalo has consistently emphasized the need for leaders to remain connected to the people they serve, particularly at the grassroots, where citizens directly experience challenges relating to service delivery, livelihoods, education, health, security and economic empowerment.
Her monitoring of the LC II elections in Kampala also highlights the ONC’s continued engagement with communities and interest in strengthening the connection between leadership structures and citizens.
As the electoral activities continue in different areas, stakeholders have continued to call upon voters and candidates to uphold peace, discipline and respect for the established electoral procedures.
The parish elections provide residents with an opportunity to select leaders they believe can effectively articulate their concerns and contribute to the development of their communities.
Hajjat Namyalo’s presence at the polling station therefore served as both an observation of the electoral process and a reminder of the importance of grassroots participation in Uganda’s democratic and governance structures.
The exercise is expected to strengthen community representation and provide residents with leaders capable of working closely with communities and higher levels of local government to identify priorities and pursue solutions to challenges affecting their areas.
As Uganda continues to strengthen grassroots governance, the peaceful conduct of the LC II elections remains crucial in building confidence in local leadership and encouraging citizens to take an active role in shaping the future of their communities.
