
“Despite the unprovoked violent attack on our comrades by the police and military, we were yesterday happy to receive back at our headquarters the next Lord Mayor of Kampala City, comrade Hon. Balimwezo Ronald, following his nomination to contest for the position in the forthcoming elections. We wish Hon. Balimwezo the very best as he seeks the mandate of the people of Kampala to overhaul its broken systems of management and set a new standard of servant leadership in the city. Kampala Yetaaga Engineer” (Bobi Wine, 05.09.2025).
It is now official that Ronald Balimwezo Nsubuga runs for Lord Mayor of Kampala. He will try to beat incumbent Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago. Those two will be the two main challengers of it and we all know it. The National Resistance Movement (NRM) can field a candidate, but that won’t matter in the grand scheme of things. Just like whoever dares to go independent won’t get far either, as this is a race between opposition leaders to become the Lord Mayor.
In 2006 he was elected as Councillor for Nakawa Division. In the next election in 2011 he was elected as a Mayor of Nakawa Division. That he won again in 2016. Before going away from the local government and running as an independent in Nakawa. He became a part of the People Power Movement and later National Unity Platform. This he did so he got elected in 2021 as a Member of Parliament for Nakawa East. He has lost Parliamentary election in the past, as long ago as 2006. When he lost to Freddie Ruhindi in the Nakawa Divison. Therefore, he hasn’t always won, but he has been able to retain an elected office over the years.
Now he is changing from being a MP to risk it all becoming Lord Mayor. The former boxer and engineer. We know he has another stance than others, when he said at one point that he wanted to emulate John Ken Lukyamuzi in Parliament. That’s what he said ahead of the 2006 elections. People should remember that and that’s someone he looked up too.
He has gone from being a total independent local councillor and now a NUP MP. A NUP MP who now goes for a ceremonial leadership role as Lord Mayor. He has more influence and more sway as an MP compared to the legalities and formalities of the role of Lord Mayor. Therefore, his downgrading and demoting himself initially doing so.
He must strand strong and face not only the state machinery in this campaign. The engineer also must compete with incumbent Lukwago. That isn’t an easy challenge. Just like wasn’t easy for him beat Fred Ruhindi back in the day. This is what he has to, and we can wonder how this will play out.
Yes, the NUP is the biggest opposition party and has vast support in Kampala. We can still wonder what sort of following Lukwago has after over a decade in office. That’s why this is still a battle until the polls are closed. The engineer must show resolve and care. Not only simple politicking and taking it easy. Because he must show his face and be resolute on his ideals. As he will Lukwago heads on.
None of us knows how the 2026 elections will play out. Nevertheless, there is a need for ease and reassurance. Also, the totality of everything, as the NUP is the biggest challenger for Lukwago. They now have a candidate with pedigree and with finesse. Not just a random bloke, but someone with history and who has proven himself in elected offices. That’s what the party has proven here and that will be a challenge for Lukwago.
The Lord Mayor of Kampala will be won by the opposition. It is just a matter if it NUP gets it or Lukwago retains it for the fourth time. Peace.












