Balimwezo MP: An engineer from Nakawa runs to become the Lord Mayor of Kampala

“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.

Mali: Ministere de l’Administration Territoriale et de la Decentralisation – Communique No. 079 du Gouvernement de la Transition (04.09.2025)

Lord Mayor Lukwago: The True Master of Ceremonies

It is official that Erias Lukago is running yet again for Lord Mayor of Kampala. A title and an office he has held since 2011. He has been impeached twice and been the target of the state. The whole state apparatus has shifted and clipped the wings of the Lord Mayor. The creation of Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) with the mandates of Executive Director and Minister of Kampala has taken away the power and prestige of the Lord Mayor. However, that hasn’t stopped Lukwago from seeking it.

He has done so on the flag of the Democratic Party (DP), as Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) and now as People’s Front for Freedom (PFF). Different parties and different banners, but the same man. The one who defied the state and stood resilient against it. Nevertheless, is it a time to say goodbye?

The Counsel and former Member of Parliament, the man who has represented Kampala for so long. Is there a time to give way and let another take the mantle?

Maybe, especially, when a brother who has complained about the overstaying and the prolonged agony of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. That’s when you know your principles and your moral backbone isn’t that strong. Especially, when the same rhetoric and bounds doesn’t apply to your own self.

Lord Mayor Lukwago should reconsider this, as he has been doing this and he should let other people run the city. He should let other people become the Master of Ceremonies and get into the position of ceremonial leader of Kampala. Just so they can feel the pinch and the structure that is built against the elected officials. The creation of KCCA and the Ministry, which holds a chokehold over the elected leadership of the city. That’s what he should do and then the new leaders could reflect on it. They could understand the plight and the problems associated with the role. Unless, his selfish act of resilience for personal gains.

Lord Mayor Lukwago looks like a man who fights for himself and his own when he does for this long. When he ringfence the position and office. Instead of letting other people go ahead. He could seek other pastures and be resolved there. Be a prominent lawyer and a renegade on the sidelines. Maybe not as public, but still he would be recognized for his efforts. Just look at Eron Kiiza and how his name rings bells.

Well, Lukwago has his personal reasons for continuing to be fight for this position. An office he has held over an decade and will soon have for two if his elected on a fourth term. There is time for him to let go. Not because it’s time for the National Unity Platform (NUP) to have it, but because Lukwago himself must reflect on his own legacy.

If he pursuits this now. A selfish leader who doesn’t let anyone become a successor and then his no different than the dictator he has claimed to fight. It is time for his stop and reflect on that. He can tell stories and tell how it was fighting the system. The former Lord Mayor can explain how he fought and what needs to be done. However, if he continues… things will just be more of the same and we cannot see any changes. Peace.

RDC: Collectif de Victimes de l’Agression Rwandaise (CVAR-ONGDH) – Communique de Presse No. 021 (04.09.2025)

Opinion: Latif Ssebagala never learns

Some people who have represented people for over two decades. Those should be able to realize and connect with people. Latif Ssebagala was already in Parliament in 2001 and his final year in office was in 2021. However, since then… he has struggled with relevance and the ability to reconnect.

Latif has lost it. The whole 2020 run for Lord Mayor and dropping out just showed this true opportunistic face. We had already seen the same when he first stood by Amama Mbabazi to later see how popular Dr. Kizza Besigye was ahead of the 2016 General Election.

The former DP Member of Parliament who left the party for the NUP. Who later stood down as a candidate in loyalty to Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago. That man has now lost again. A man who didn’t even get the NUP Party Card to stand as a NUP Kawempe Division Mayor. He wasn’t even eligible there, and that’s not shocking either. Especially, since he burned the party in 2020 ahead of the 2021. Why would the party risk a renegade like this again?

We know that Latif went ahead as an Independent in the race for MP for Kawempe North in 2021. The same is most likely happening in regard to Kawempe Division Mayor too. Since the NUP party isn’t issuing the card or the position for him. Meaning, he will challenge the candidates that the party puts forward. Just like last time. Even then they gave him the trusted Lord Mayor flagbearer, but he ditched out and left the party out without a candidate ahead of the polls. That’s why someone else got picked and took the mantle from him.

The former MP knows this game. He knows it well. Latif has run campaigns and been scavenging for ballots. That’s not something new for him. No, he has done this since early 2000s. This is his career and his livelihood.

You cannot play the same sort of games and expect a different result. This man has played the same scheme and thought he could get away with it. Using the NUP and hoping they would get fooled by him. Latif has thought it was a easy bargain, but he wasn’t able to fool anyone. That’s why he didn’t get the party card and the ability to run as an NUP flagbearer this time either.

They tried that in 2020, and it backfired. That’s why the party is wise in not accepting him now. The flip flopping of the former MP hasn’t helped him either. That’s why people don’t trust him and why should they?

He can one moment stand by the side of Mbabazi and the next Besigye. One moment being hardliner and renegade for the People Power, but later step aside for Lukwago. Meanwhile, he could face late Mr. Update after stepping down as an Independent. So, the total unity as opposition wasn’t true either. Therefore, we can just wonder what he will do now.

If he runs as Independent again. Surely, he isn’t a loyal dude and neither is he trustworthy. As his only his own keeper and wants to safeguard himself first. That’s who Latif is and we can all see it coming. Peace.

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