The National Resistance Movement (NRM) party’s internal race for the Mukono District LC5 chairperson seat is heating up, and a new name is gaining ground.
Jimmy Lugoloobi, the youthful parish chairperson of Nantabulirwa, is steadily emerging as a serious contender.
At just 37, Lugoloobi represents a rising tide of youth-led politics that is challenging the dominance of long-standing political figures in Uganda’s districts.
His announcement to contest for the NRM ticket has been met with enthusiastic support from younger party members and grassroots mobilizers.
Many view him as a fresh and energetic alternative to veteran politician Lukooya Mukoome, whose political fortunes have steadily declined in recent years.
Lukooya, once a prominent figure in Mukono’s political landscape, suffered a stinging defeat in the 2021 elections.
After losing the LC5 seat, he ran independently for the Mukono South parliamentary seat in a bid that ended in disappointment.
He garnered only 722 votes, falling far behind DP’s Fred Kayondo, who secured 26,512 votes, and NRM’s Muyanja Ssenyonga, who received 10,922 votes.
Now attempting a political comeback, Lukooya is again seeking the NRM flag for the LC5 chairperson race.
However, political analysts and insiders suggest the odds are increasingly stacked against him.
His influence within party structures has waned, and a growing wave of youth-driven change within the NRM is beginning to reshape the party’s internal dynamics.
Winds of Change in the NRM
This transformation within the NRM was on full display during the recent structural leadership elections.
In a symbolic upset, long-serving Mukono NRM chairperson Hajji Twahir Ssebaggala was unseated by his deputy, Hajji Harunah Ssemakula.
Ssebaggala had long been regarded as a key ally and mobilizer for Lukooya, and his defeat signaled a turning point in the district’s political balance.
“The party is moving with the times. We want leaders who are energetic, practical, and in touch with the community, not those who are just holding on for the sake of it,” said Janat Nanseko, a staunch NRM member in Mukono.
Lugoloobi’s Rising Appeal
Jimmy Lugoloobi has anchored his campaign on a platform of economic, social, and political transformation.
He has pledged to modernize local service delivery, invest in youth-led entrepreneurship, and enhance transparency in district governance.
“We cannot afford another five years of stagnation,” Lugoloobi told supporters at a recent gathering. “Mukono deserves dynamic leadership that listens, acts, and inspires.”
His message is resonating with the youth and civil society groups, many of whom have long criticized the district’s poor service delivery.
Concerns have been raised over delayed infrastructure projects, a non-functional service commission, lack of youth employment programs, and increasing public dissatisfaction.
The Bigger Picture
Mukono District, located just outside Kampala, is a politically strategic area and has become a key battleground for both national and opposition parties.
Analysts suggest that the outcome of the NRM primaries will likely determine the party’s strength in the 2026 general elections.
“NRM needs to project a rejuvenated image if it hopes to counter DP and NUP’s growing influence in central Uganda,” our political analyst noted. “Candidates like Lugoloobi might be exactly what the party needs to remain relevant.”
The race, however, is far from decided. With primaries expected later this year, Lugoloobi faces the challenge of consolidating support across various age groups.
Meanwhile, Lukooya, despite his fading popularity, still maintains some influence within traditional party structures.
If recent trends are any indication, Mukono could soon become a textbook case in Uganda’s generational political shift, with young leaders like Lugoloobi at the forefront of this transformation.
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