The battle for Mukono Municipality has intensified into one of the most charged and personality-driven races of this election cycle, as long-running adversaries Rev. Peter Bakaluba Mukasa and Mukono Municipality MP Betty Nambooze Bakireke face off once again.
Their rivalry, which has defined Mukono politics for years, has become even more complex with the entry of District Woman MP Hanifah Nabukeera into the race.
The contest has evolved into a battle marked by accusations, counter-accusations, and competing narratives over development and service delivery, while each camp escalates grassroots mobilisation in a bid to secure influence across key communities.
The rivalry has also spilled into the Mukono District Woman MP race. Nambooze is backing NUP flagbearer Sheilla Amaniyo Dravile, while Bakaluba and, at times, Nabukeera encourage their supporters to vote for independent candidate Marhaba Nalumu. The resulting split has sharpened internal party tensions and deepened questions around loyalty and political identity.
One of the most contentious issues in the campaign is the status and management of Mukono Health Centre IV, which was elevated to a General Hospital. Nambooze accuses Bakaluba of attempting to hand the facility over to the district at a time when she was hospitalised abroad, claiming the transfer has led to stagnation.
She argues that besides the municipality-purchased ambulance, which she says was grounded, no major improvements have been realised. But Bakaluba denies any wrongdoing and insists he only implemented the Ministry of Health policy.
A fact-check by this website points to a letter dated December 12, 2019, from Permanent Secretary Dr Diana Atwiine, instructing Mukono Municipality to transfer management and administrative control of the ambulance services to the District Local Government once the facility attained general hospital status. This evidence shows the transfer was a legal requirement rather than a personal political decision.
The hospital administration has also dismissed Nambooze’s claim about the ambulance, stating that it is fully operational.
Questions over the use of NUP symbols and identity have also dominated the campaign trail. Nambooze has criticised Bakaluba for using Robert Kyagulanyi’s image and NUP attire, including red overalls, after losing the flagbearer election, arguing that it misleads voters into believing he still has party endorsement.
Bakaluba insists he has no conflict with Kyagulanyi and has even volunteered to print posters for him across the district. He declared Kyagulanyi his president, though this website has not independently verified his claim of working with NUP leadership on the issue of printing posters.
The use of Kyagulanyi’s image remains a sensitive issue in a district where NUP enjoys significant support and where party loyalty often determines political survival.
The state of the district road network has become another battleground between the rivals. Nambooze accuses Bakaluba of failing to significantly improve roads during his time as LCV chairperson.
In response, Bakaluba lists several road upgrades completed in the 2024/25 financial year, totalling 95.52 kilometres, including Bulanga–Kawututu, Bugereka–Kasawo, Seeta–Gimbi–Nacyeke–Naluwala–Luute, Kanana–Kayini, Takajunge–Nsambwe, and Maala–Muwooma. He insists his focus was on practical improvements to district and community roads rather than highly visible political projects.
Bakaluba also accuses Nambooze of being more present on radio talk shows and political corridors than on the floor of Parliament, where key decisions affecting Mukono are made.
He blames her for mobilising councillors to reject the World Bank–supported Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area Urban Development Programme, arguing that the project would have brought roadworks, market improvements, swamp rehabilitation, and drainage upgrades to Mukono.
He claims she misled councillors by saying the programme would place Mukono under Kampala’s authority. Nambooze insists the government had not clarified governance boundaries at the time and says Bakaluba now campaigns by telling residents that Mukono deserves city status, even though most households are not economically prepared for the taxes and fees that accompany such an upgrade.
Within Nambooze’s camp, Mukono District Speaker Betty Hope Nakasi has further accused Bakaluba of delaying the constitution of the District Service Commission, which she says has resulted in the return of approximately 2 billion shillings meant for workers’ wages over three financial years.
Nakasi argues that Bakaluba has no moral standing to claim affiliation to NUP, noting that he appointed an NRM vice chairperson and once declared that NUP was “a pathway to President Museveni.”
Bakaluba defends himself, saying he delayed the DSC process to stop corrupt practices, including alleged job-selling within the commission.
The entry of Hanifah Nabukeera has added further complexity to the race. Nabukeera, who is also the NUP district vice chairperson but is contesting as an independent, accuses Nambooze of engineering her loss of the NUP ticket for District Woman MP, which went to Amaniyo.
She emphasises her contributions during her term, including donating hospital beds, purchasing an ambulance—though this website has established that it has been grounded for over two years due to mechanical issues—supporting women’s savings groups, offering bursaries, and providing tents and chairs for community functions. She contrasts this with what she calls “empty promises” from Nambooze.
In return, Nambooze has accused Nabukeera of forging academic documents, presenting inconsistent school histories, claiming to have studied at Namagunga while records submitted to the party show Kitante, and changing her name from Azulu on the national ID to Nabukeera. Nabukeera dismisses all accusations and challenges Nambooze to take the matter to court.
Beyond the top contenders, frustrations among voters have emerged. Nabukeera’s chief campaigner, Joseph Wamala, claims that youth in Mukono have failed to benefit from government programmes because Nambooze discourages their participation.
At the same time, DF candidate Allan Mawanda argues that Nambooze has nothing new to offer after serving multiple terms, while asserting that Nabukeera is contesting out of envy following her loss of the party ticket. Mawanda also accuses Bakaluba of seeking political dominance to protect his private businesses, including his seven schools and real estate ventures.
The ballot is crowded with additional candidates such as George Fred Kagimu of DP, Sarah Nakintu of PFF, Daisy Sarah Ssonko of NRM, and independents Andrew Ssenyonga, Herbert Oromolo Omo, Ssenseko Kulubya, and Dunstan Mbogo. Most of these candidates have centred their messages on challenging Nambooze’s long stay in Parliament and questioning her development record.
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