VANESSA A
Rukungiri District Returning Officer, Abas K. Namara, has urged candidates and their supporters to embrace peace and harmony as campaigns approach, following a smooth nomination exercise for the 2026 Local Government elections.
The nomination exercise, which began on 3rd September 2025, is scheduled to close tomorrow, 24th September 2025. According to Namara, the process has so far been peaceful and well-received, with an impressive turnout of candidates across all elective positions.
He revealed that a total of 776 nominees have been registered so far, with 609 of them contesting at the subcounty level. Namara noted that competition is evident at every level of leadership, ranging from District Chairpersons, Lord Mayors, Municipal Division Chairpersons, Town Council Chairpersons, Subcounty Chairpersons, Councilors, and representatives for Special Interest Groups.
“We are pleased that the exercise has been smooth, peaceful, and competitive. We encourage all stakeholders to maintain this spirit of harmony as we prepare for campaigns,” Namara said.
While commending the candidates for their discipline during the nomination process, Namara cautioned against conducting early campaigns before clearance from the national program. He emphasized the need for proper coordination to prevent candidates from holding meetings in the same venues, which could spark unnecessary tensions.
Namara also reminded aspiring candidates who have not yet been nominated to take advantage of the remaining time.
“The exercise closes tomorrow at 5:00 pm. I call upon those who have not submitted their nominations to do so immediately to avoid being left out,” he added.
The Rukungiri District nomination exercise is part of the broader national preparations for the 2026 Local Government Council Elections, expected to be highly competitive across the country.
