Ugandan Prime Minister Dr Ruhakana Rugunda has revealed that local council elections will not take place this year as had been planned. Instead, the elections which were last conducted 15 years ago will now take place in 2018.

On Thursday, Rugunda told reporters at Parliament in Kampala that part of the Shs 17bn needed to hold the polls was used to provide food relief in drought-stricken parts of the country.

“It is just a question of postponement because resources that were meant for the LC1 elections have partly helped the people of Uganda in overcoming the food shortage brought by this drought,” he said.

He said government was committed to providing the funds next year.

“There is no doubt that these elections will be held.”