3.1 Local Council Elections

Local Government Organization and Finance: Uganda 99

5

District council (55)

chairperson: universal adult suffrage councilor: universal adult suffrage women councilors: universal adult suffrage youth councilor: electoral college youth councilor: electoral college college

4

County council (15) chairperson: electoral college vice chairperson: electoral college

3

Subcounty council (857)

chairperson: universal adult suffrage councilor: universal adult suffrage women councilors: universal adult suffrage youth councilor: electoral college PWD councilor: electoral college two elderly persons: nomination by executive, with council approval

2

Parish (5,225)

(including wards) chairperson: electoral college

City council (1)

mayor: universal adult suffrage councilor: universal adult suffrage women councilors: universal adult suffrage youth councilor: electoral college councilor for people with disabilities: electoral college

Municipal (13) or city (5) division

mayor or chairperson: universal adult suffrage councilor: universal adult suffrage women councilors: universal adult suffrage youth councilor: electoral college councilor for people with disabilities: electoral college two elderly persons: nomination by executive, with council approval

Town council (69)/municipal division (34)

chairperson: universal adult suffrage councilor: universal adult suffrage women councilors: universal adult suffrage youth councilor: electoral college PWD councilor: electoral college two elderly persons: nomination by executive, with council approval

Ward chairperson: electoral college

1

Village (44,402)

(including cells and zones) chairperson: universal adult suffrage

Cell or zone

chairperson: universal adult suffrage

local governments administrative units levels

Source: Steffensen, Tidemand, and Ssewankambo 2004. Note: All elections are by secret ballot.

FIGURE 3.1 Local Council Elections

The district and city councils have planning,legislative,and executive powers (LGA,section 10). The district council is the planning authority ofa district.Among the functions and powers ofa local government council not to be delegated are approvals ofannual budget estimates and development plans (LGA,schedule 4).Subject to the provisions ofthe constitution and any other law,a district or city may establish or abolish offices in the public service ofa district or urban council in accordance with staffregulations made under the LGA (section 53).

100 Jesper Steffensen

A district council has powers to make regulations not inconsistent with the constitution or any other law enacted by the legislature.Each district has a district executive committee (DEC),consisting ofthe district chairperson, the vice chairperson,and such number ofsecretaries (not exceeding five) as the council may decide.There are also several standing committees.

Elections

As at the national level,there are no political parties at the local government level.The local government elections are held under the movement political system,which is broad based,inclusive,and nonpartisan,relying on individual merit as a basis for election to political offices.

Administrative Structure at District and City Councils The CAO for a district and the town clerk for a city are the chiefaccounting officers for the district and city,leading an elaborate administrative system with several sector departments.The DSC appoints the CAO or town clerk. The CAO or town clerk is responsible to—and subject to the general direction of—the chairperson and the district council.

Several statutory bodies,including the following,have been established to support local government administration and to ensure that certain functions are performed independently ofday-to-day political influence:

The DSC is appointed by the district council on the recommendation of the DEC,with the approval ofthe public service commission.The DSC is the hiring authority ofthe local governments. The local government public accounts committee (LGPAC) consists of four members appointed by the district council on the recommendation ofthe DEC (LGA,section 89).It examines the reports ofthe auditor general and chiefinternal auditor and any reports ofcommissions ofinquiry and then reports to the local council and the minister responsible for local government,who is supposed to lay the report before parliament. Tender boards (district and urban) are formed in each district and are supposed to provide services to the district councils,subcounty councils, and administrative units in that district.

Oversight Functions A number ofinstitutions at the central government level are responsible for supporting local governments in delivering their mandated functions under