The race for Mukono Municipality Member of Parliament has exploded into a dramatic contest of revenge, betrayal, and long-festering political feuds.
What began as a routine election season has turned into a battleground of personal vendettas and party wars, with ten candidates, each carrying political baggage, vying to unseat the incumbent, Betty Nambooze Bakireke of the National Unity Platform (NUP).
At the heart of the chaos lies deep-rooted divisions within the country’s dominant parties—the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) and the opposition NUP.
Both parties are reeling from bitter primaries that left disgruntled aspirants breaking away to run as independents, widening fractures within their ranks.
The list of duly nominated candidates paints a picture of a constituency torn between loyalty and rebellion. The ten candidates include: Betty Nambooze Bakireke (NUP), George Fred Kagimu (DP) – former Mukono Municipality Mayor; Sarah Nakintu (PFF); Allan Mawanda (DF); Dustan Mbogo (FDC); Daisy Sarah Ssonko Nabantazi (NRM); and four independents: Peter Bakaluba Mukasa, Hanifah Nabukeera, Herbert Oromolo Omo, and Andrew Ssenyonga.
The independents are largely defectors—former party loyalists denied tickets under controversial circumstances, now running campaigns of defiance.
Within NUP, internal disputes have birthed some of the most aggressive rivals to Nambooze. Former Mukono District Woman MP Hanifah Nabukeera and former Mukono LC5 chairperson Rev. Peter Bakaluba Mukasa both accuse Nambooze of using her influence to manipulate the party’s electoral committee to block their nominations.
Nabukeera, who lost the NUP ticket to Shella Amaniyo Draville, has re-emerged in the Municipality race with a mission—to end what she calls Nambooze’s “era of failure.”
“Nambooze claims to fight for change, but she’s lying—she only fights for herself. In 20 years she has achieved nothing for the people of Mukono,” Nabukeera told supporters. “The time has come for serious leaders who focus on development, not endless quarrels.”
Bakaluba, on his part, says Nambooze’s confrontational politics have cost Mukono government support.
“You cannot lead effectively by fighting government. The same government provides what we all use. Her brand of opposition only spreads falsehoods,” he said. “We have come to rescue Mukono Municipality from a leader who has done nothing to improve lives.”
NRM’s Internal Wounds
The NRM front isn’t any more united. The party’s primaries in Mukono ended in chaos and even violence, leaving one aspirant, Andrew Ssenyonga, confined to a wheelchair after clashes with rival supporters.
Despite losing to Daisy Sarah Ssonko Nabantazi, Ssenyonga has refused to step aside, insisting he remains the people’s choice.
“I once served as LC5 chairperson—I know the ground and I’m prepared to oust Nambooze,” he said as he launched his campaign in Goma Division.
Another NRM-leaning contender, Herbert Oromolo Omo, withdrew from the party primaries altogether, citing irregularities, and decided to stand as an independent.
During a recent NRM gathering chaired by Hajji Moses Kigongo and Minister Haruna Kasolo, Omo reportedly promised to withdraw from the race if the party offered him a compensatory appointment as Resident District Commissioner (RDC).
However, Kigongo firmly rejected secret negotiations, warning that “decisions must be driven by party spirit, not personal deals.”
Young Voices, Old Battles
Among the new entrants trying to cut through the noise is Allan Mawanda of the Democratic Front (DF), a youthful Central Division Speaker and former political aide to Nambooze. Mawanda accuses older politicians of turning Mukono’s politics into a playground for personal enrichment.
“If you elect someone who has been in Parliament for 20 years, they’re only looking to buy another house in America,” he said. “If you elect someone angry because their party denied them a card, you’re wasting your vote. Mukono needs leaders who will deliver real services.”
Mawanda also warned residents against monetising their votes; “Those who sell their votes are mortgaging their own future.”
Other contenders like Sarah Nakintu, a former Woman MP candidate under the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF), have shifted their ambitions to the Municipality, promising a fresh approach to leadership and grassroots empowerment.
Meanwhile, George Fred Kagimu, the veteran Democratic Party candidate and former mayor, is pitching himself as a steady alternative. Despite criticisms about his age, Kagimu insists his priority is to “restore people-centered leadership” and “end years of political chaos.”
The Incumbent Fights Back
Unbothered by the rising hostility, Nambooze launched her re-election campaign vowing not to be distracted by “noise from detractors.”
“I’ve heard all the accusations,” she said. “But my focus remains on removing Museveni from power and transforming this country. I won’t waste time replying to those who hate progress.”
Her message continues to resonate with segments of NUP’s core supporters who see her as a resilient voice for opposition politics. Yet, after nearly two decades in Parliament, fatigue and skepticism among voters are intense.
As the campaigns heat up, Mukono Municipality’s electorate finds itself overwhelmed by competing loyalties and bitter rhetoric. Many residents fear that the personal feuds among candidates, rather than genuine policy debate, will define this election.
Still, for others, the crowded race is a blessing in disguise. “At least we now have options,” said James Kambaza, a voter in Central Division. “Maybe this time, we can elect someone who works for us—not for their party or revenge.”
The final verdict will rest in the hands of the voters. Whether they choose to retain Nambooze or usher in a new face will depend on who convinces them that politics in Mukono can finally move beyond the old grudges and serve the people.
A Constituency at a Crossroads
Mukono Municipality’s 2026 race encapsulates the wider crisis in Uganda’s political landscape—where party identity often breeds division rather than unity, and personal interests overshadow service delivery.
The sheer number of independents reflects deep disillusionment with party systems increasingly perceived as unjust and corrupt.
For voters, the challenge will be to separate substance from emotion, rhetoric from record, and loyalty from logic.
In the end, the contest is not merely about who wins the seat—but whether Mukono can reclaim politics of principle over politics of personal vengeance.
ENDS.
English 