KAMPALA, Uganda — Inside the offices of the Nakawa Division, Ronald Balimwezo Nsubuga used to practice his signature boxing uppercut for the cameras, a playful gesture that belied the heavy lifting he was doing in one of the city’s most bustling sectors. On Saturday morning, that same energy propelled him to the highest political office in the capital, as he was declared the new lord mayor of Kampala.
Balimwezo, an engineer by trade, did more than just win an election; he upended a decade and a half of political tradition. By unseating Erias Lukwago, a seasoned lawyer who had become synonymous with the lord mayor’s office since 2011, Balimwezo proved that the residents of Kampala were hungry for a new kind of leadership.
The victory was decisive. Running on the National Unity Platform ticket, Balimwezo garnered 141,220 votes, leaving his closest challenger, Moses Kizito Nsubuga of the ruling National Resistance Movement, far behind with 43,615 votes. Lukwago, the incumbent, finished third.
For many in Kampala, the change is not just about party colors or political rhetoric. It is about the physical state of the city. Kampala is a place where the rain often brings the threat of floods due to poor drainage, and where motorists navigate a maze of deteriorating roads.
Kampala has been requiring a leader with such character and qualities as I have, Balimwezo said during an interview. I have competencies in dealing with such challenges because I have done engineering. I have a master’s degree in engineering. So I will be in the best position to tackle those challenges.
His supporters agree. Residents like Tonny Kasakya of Kisenyi point to Balimwezo’s tenure as the mayor of Nakawa Division as a blueprint for what he can achieve on a larger scale. They recall a leader who was visible on the streets and committed to tangible development projects.
However, the road ahead is paved with more than just physical potholes. One of the greatest hurdles for any Kampala lord mayor is the historically frosty relationship between the political wing and the technical wing of the Kampala Capital City Authority. Lukwago’s 15-year tenure was often marked by public rifts and stalemates with the central government.
Voters like Peter Nsubuga, an NRM supporter who nonetheless respects the new mayor-elect’s work ethic, are calling for a more diplomatic approach. They believe that for Kampala to receive the necessary funding for its ambitious plans, the lord mayor must work in tandem with the state.
Balimwezo seems ready to bridge those gaps. In a show of humility following the heated race, he pledged to seek the counsel of his predecessor, describing Lukwago as a great pillar in the city.
I will knock on your doors because you are experienced and you have done a lot for this city, Balimwezo said of Lukwago.
As he prepares for his first 100 days in office, the engineer-turned-mayor faces a daunting checklist: fixing the roads, overhauling garbage collection and addressing the plight of street vendors. For the people of Kampala, the hope is that his technical expertise will finally provide the solutions that political maneuvering could not.
