By Mukwaba Katende
This is the last week of campaigns for the Kawempe North by-election. The polls will be held on Thursday.
Ten candidates are contesting, but it is clear that the race is between NUP’s Elias Nalukoola Luyimbaazi and NRM’s Faridah Nambi.
A win for either party will make an important statement about its popularity ahead of the 2026 elections.
If NUP loses, it will be a big blow to the party because it had previously enjoyed support in Buganda. A loss for NUP would also demoralize supporters of a party that has been torn apart by leadership wrangles.
However, confidence in DP has been boosted by the fact it had previously won massively in Kampala.
The NRM, on the other hand, is fighting to retain the seat after losing it in the 2021 general election. The NRM can not afford to lose Kawempe North because that could imply that
To show how seriously the by-election is, the race has forced top party leaders to campaign for their candidates. NUP president Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu has campaigned twice for Elias Luyimbazi Nalukoola.
Nalukoola is not very popular in Kawempe but is the candidate for the largest opposition party, the National Unity Platform (NUP).
He had a successful campaign start, unlike during his nomination, when he was hounded by security operatives.
In most of his campaign trail, he is joined by Muwanga Kivumbi, NUP deputy president for Buganda subregion, Medard Lubega Ssegona the Busiro East MP, Goretti Namugga the Mawogola County MP, Abubaker Kawalya the Lubaga North MP, and many other NUP leaders.
They promised to advocate for slum development, socio-economic empowerment, and infrastructure.
NRM’s top brass, like Secretary General Robinah Nabanja have campaigned for Faridah Nambi, while President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni is expected to hold a rally on Tuesday.
Nambi in her campaign trail is accompanied by her losers on the NRM ticket, who include Onesmus mutumba, Ali Moses Jjemba. They promised service delivery to the constituents.
The Kawempe North seat fell vacant recently after the sudden death of former MP Mohammed Ssegirinya.
Other contenders are DPs Henry Kasaaca Mubiru, Anifa karadi ( Independent), Ismail Musitwa (PPP), Muhammad Lusswa Luwemba (Independent), Moses Nsereko (Independent), and Henry Stanley Maitum Engena (independent).
