Pader Residents Protest Exclusion of 12 Villages from Voters' Register Ahead of LC I Elections

The upcoming Local Council I (LC I) elections in Uganda are facing a significant controversy in Pader district, where 12 villages in Acholibur Sub-county have been discovered to be missing from the Electoral Commission’s voter register. This omission means hundreds of eligible voters in these established administrative units risk being disenfranchised when polls open on July 28, 2026.

The affected villages, spread across several parishes within Acholibur Sub-county, were officially approved and recognized by local communities and the sub-county in 2021. Documentation, including council resolutions, was reportedly submitted to the Pader district authorities for further processing.

Local leaders, including sub-county chairperson James Obalim and District Councillor Godwin Wokorach, expressed shock and frustration. They highlighted that these villages have been functioning as legitimate government administrative units for years, with residents receiving government services, participating in programs like the state restocking initiative, and their village chairpersons holding official recognition, complete with government-issued stamps.

“It is difficult to understand why they cannot participate in the elections,” stated Councillor Wokorach, echoing the sentiment of bewildered residents. The Electoral Commission has reportedly clarified that the gazetting of administrative units falls under the purview of the Chief Administrative Officer and the District Planner, not the commission itself. This has led to a petition by the district to the Ministry of Local Government to resolve the discrepancy.

District officials indicated that the issue might have arisen during the document submission process, either from the sub-county to the district, or from the district to the Ministry of Local Government. Pader district chairperson Alfred Akena and Woman MP Lowila CD Oketayot have appealed to the Ministry of Local Government for an urgent intervention. State Minister for Local Government Justine Nsubuga Nameere has assured that the ministry will investigate the matter to understand how these recognized villages failed to appear on the electoral roll.

This situation leaves voters in the 12 villages in limbo, with little time remaining before election day to rectify the error and ensure their right to vote is upheld.

Source: The Observer (Uganda)