George Fred Kagimu, the former Mayor of Mukono Municipality, has officially declared his intention to contest for the Member of Parliament seat for Mukono Municipality, setting the stage for a highly charged political race.
The declaration was made during the launch of his campaign manifesto, an event that attracted hundreds of supporters, local leaders, and loyal members of Democratic Party (Uganda).
Key Endorsement from Grassroots Leader
A major highlight of the launch was the public endorsement by Joachim Ssendi, the LCI Chairperson of Lweza. In a bold statement, Ssendi revealed he had rejected offers from other contenders to support Kagimu’s bid.
“I had to forego acceptance of brown envelopes to support Kagimu. I believe in his leadership and development agenda,” Ssendi told the cheering crowd.
Ssendi is a well-known grassroots mobilizer in Mukono, remembered for publicly confronting then Minister Mayinja Mayanja after he allegedly undermined the Kabaka during a visit to the district. His endorsement is seen as a significant boost to Kagimu’s campaign.
Although he remains a DP loyalist, Ssendi previously backed Betty Nambooze to victory in past elections.
Kagimu’s Campaign Message
While unveiling his manifesto, Kagimu called on voters to prioritize competence over party loyalty.
“We must vote diligently rather than prioritizing political parties that usher in incompetent leaders,” Kagimu said.
He pledged to champion programs that empower the boy child, noting that most existing interventions have focused on girls, leaving boys behind. He also promised to support graduates by identifying their skills and connecting them to opportunities to reduce youth unemployment.
Kagimu further committed to fostering collaboration with municipal leadership to improve service delivery.
“Leadership leaves no legacy once community empowerment fails. We must start with government programs and lobby beyond borders for more support,” he added.
During his tenure as mayor, Kagimu lobbied for security lights, road graders, and the opening of road boundaries that contributed to the GKMA-UDP road network. He also played a key role in the upgrade of Mukono General Hospital and Goma HC IV, initiated a youth skilling centre, and secured a garbage truck for improved waste management.
Voices from the Community
Samuel Lwandasa from the Inter-Faith Greater Mukono urged religious leaders to guide communities during the election period.
“We have a duty to protect our sheep through guiding them to elect good leaders,” he said.
Human rights advocate Livingstone Ssewanyana, who rarely attends partisan political events, surprised many with his presence.
“My presence is an indicator that Kagimu is the best candidate. I believe he can change Mukono. We need better leadership, proper roads, stable power, and a beautiful town. We have the potential and resources; what we lack is good leadership,” Ssewanyana remarked.
DP Leaders Speak Out
Denis Majwala, Deputy Spokesperson of the Democratic Party, cautioned voters against making impulsive decisions at the polls.
“I am dismayed that the majority of voters have abandoned the demand for federal governance. DP has its own problems, like other parties, but we must focus on electing capable leaders,” Majwala noted.
Meanwhile, Kenneth Ssebagayunga called for a shift from confrontational opposition politics.
“Abusing Museveni takes us nowhere. We are only against bad governance, not development. If you’re here to oppose development, stay at home and treat yourself,” he said.
The Road to 2026
Kagimu’s re-entry into the political arena is expected to shake up the Mukono Municipality race, long dominated by Nambooze. With influential mobilizers rallying behind him, Kagimu is positioning himself as a candidate of development, unity, and practical leadership.
His campaign is expected to ignite one of the most competitive races ahead of the 2026 general elections.
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