By Rosette Nandutu,

The Electoral Commission (EC) has created 743 new villages during the process of identification of administrative units as preparations for the local council elections take shape.

EC has displayed 71, 255 villages in the country, growing from the initial 70,512 administrative units as they prepare for the women council committees and LC1 and LC2 elections later this month.

Justice Simon Byabakama, the EC chairperson, said the number had risen after complaints from various stakeholders who indicated that there was a mismatch in the boundary establishment and identification of villages by law.

Section 7(6) and (9) of the Local Government Act, cap 243, mandates the Ministry of Local Government to approve any alteration of boundaries and creation of an administrative unit.

The EC said the women elections will be conducted at village level through lining up behind the candidates.

The current EC programme shows that the compilation of village women’s register will be between June 10 and June 13 followed by the display of the register between June 23 and June 24,nomination of candidates at the sub-county headquarters will take place on June 27 and July 1 and campaigns will take place between July 4 and July 6 and polling day will be on July 7.

Mr Paul Bukenya, the EC spokesperson, said the whole exercise has been budgeted at Shs35.6b, which will be used for hiring temporary election staff and compilation of registers, among other activities.