The Mukono South Parliamentary contest is tightening as three candidates emerge with strong ground networks, heightened visibility, and sharply contrasting campaign messages in what has become one of the most crowded races in the district.
Although the constituency has attracted 10 contenders, the political momentum currently favours incumbent MP Fred Kayondo, NUP’s Robert Maseruka, and independent candidate Mubarak Ssekikubo, whose return from detention has added fresh energy to the campaign trail.
Incumbent Fred Kayondo is seeking to extend his tenure by leaning on what he calls “tangible service delivery gains” achieved during his time in Parliament.
He points to major improvements in infrastructure particularly roads once deemed impassable. Over 18 kilometers of road construction are underway under the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area program, which he attributes to consistent lobbying.
“Being a Member of Parliament is not just about passing the national budget,” Kayondo said. “It’s about ensuring that your constituency benefits from the allocation. That’s exactly what I’ve done.”
Kayondo has also taken a preventive approach to health, arguing that unsafe water is the root cause of up to 70% of community illnesses.
“We must fix water first,” he said, referencing ongoing water distribution and sanitation efforts coordinated through an office in Kisoga.
As a member of Parliament’s Natural Resources Committee, Kayondo also peddlers his advocacy for the fisheries sector, a lifeline for residents in some areas of Mukono. While Parliament passed the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act, he blames the Ministry of Agriculture for delaying regulations needed to operationalize the law.
“We did our part. Now the executive must fast-track regulations,” he said. “You cannot implement a law without them.”
On the opposite end of the spectrum is Robert Maseruka, the former Makerere Guild President running on the National Unity Platform (NUP) ticket. Though dismissed by critics as “too young,” Maseruka has galvanized large sections of the youth who see him as a fresh alternative to traditional politics.
His agenda focuses on education, reducing school dropouts, and bridging what he calls “the widening knowledge gap” between the educated and uneducated in Mukono South.
“As Nelson Mandela said, education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world,” he said. “If we want doctors, engineers, and teachers from Mukono South, we must invest in education and capacity building.”
Maseruka is also campaigning on improving essential services in rural areas such as Mponge Sub-county, which he says inexplicably remains without electricity despite its proximity to Kampala.
He has further promised to push for fair fishing policies and better service delivery in island communities like Kome Sub-county, where residents face shortages of clean water, schools, and health centres. “You can’t condemn fishermen for illegal nets before explaining how those nets enter the country,” he said.
On criticism about his age, he fired back that you can’t blame President Museveni for staying too long and at the same time blame him for coming too early.
Independent candidate Mubarak Ssekikubo launched his campaign last week shortly after being released from remand in Kauga Prison, where he had been held on allegations of fraud involving government job transactions.
His return has injected new excitement into the race, drawing crowds who see him as an underdog overcoming political adversity.
A former LC3 chairperson of Nakisunga Sub-county, Ssekikubo is positioning himself as the candidate of “practical experience,” promising effective representation, lobbying, and strict monitoring of government programs.
He is widely credited for playing a strategic mobilization role that contributed to the incumbent’s victory in the previous election, a factor that complicates the political loyalties in this race.
The remaining candidates including NRM’s Tadeo Kintu, former NUP flag bearer Wilson Male, Living Robert Kikurwe, and others have mounted campaigns but are yet to attract large crowds.
Some rely on door-to-door strategies, while others are still attempting to define clear messages. Other candidates include; Amos Wambede-student at IUIU, Vincent Grace Luswata, Esther Gibone, and Loy Mwesigwa.
Residents say the race’s crowded nature has not translated into compelling alternatives. Many accuse some contenders of lacking clear agendas or even basic knowledge of local issues.
“At the moment we are still listening,” said Jamir Kalumba of Namayiba. “We shall vote for those with a serious vision for our community, not those who come without solutions to our community challenges like lake access, sanitation, and land conflicts.”
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