KAMPALA, Uganda — Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago is fighting for his political future today as voters in the capital city head to the polls to decide one of the most contested races in Uganda’s local government elections.
Lukwago, representing the newly formed People’s Front for Freedom, faces a crowded field of four challengers. Analysts suggest that a loss for the 55-year-old incumbent, who has held the office since May 2011, could signal an end to his long-standing influence in city politics.
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His most prominent rival is Nakawa East lawmaker Ronald Balimwezo of the National Unity Platform. The race also includes former legislator Ibrahim Kasozi of the Forum for Democratic Change, Moses Kizito Nsubuga of the National Resistance Movement, and Beatrice Mao of the Democratic Party. Nabilah Naggayi, a former Kampala Woman representative, is also running as an independent.
The Kampala contest is the centerpiece of a massive national election day. Across the country, more than 6,000 candidates are competing for 2,241 district and city council seats. Voters are also electing chairpersons for 145 districts and mayors for 10 other cities, including Gulu, Mbarara and Jinja.
Electoral Commission spokesperson Julius Mucunguzi confirmed yesterday that all voting materials had been dispatched. While the commission declined to confirm if biometric verification kits would be used following past technical issues, Mucunguzi emphasized that the manual voter register remains the principal document for identification.
In other parts of the country, high-stakes battles are unfolding along party lines. In Mbarara, incumbent Robert Kakyebezi faces a challenge from Stanley Katembeya of the PFF in an NRM stronghold. In Luwero, a traditional base for the ruling party, NUP incumbent Erasto Kibirango is attempting to defend his seat against NRM challenger Rashida Birungi.
Under the Local Government Act, the 10 newest cities are treated as equivalents to districts. Kampala, however, remains under the administration of the Kampala Capital City Authority, where the lord mayor serves as the political head working alongside a central government-appointed executive director.
