Mr Erias Lukwago. He will be contesting with Mr Daniel Kazibwe, aka Ragga Dee (NRM) and Issa Kikungwe (DP) for the Kampala Lord Mayor seat.
In the last mayoral elections, Mr Erias Lukwago had to use more than tough words to protect his vote. He employed a bit of muscle. He and his cronies had to physically break into areas suspected of harbouring vote riggers— ballot boxes flew in the air; police were deployed and a bit of teargas was used. It was a day of running battles. He won, and the battles followed him into office.
In the last mayoral elections, Mr Erias Lukwago had to use more than tough words to protect his vote. He employed a bit of muscle. He and his cronies had to physically break into areas suspected of harbouring vote riggers— ballot boxes flew in the air; police were deployed and a bit of teargas was used. It was a day of running battles. He won, and the battles followed him into office.
Five years later, he is back on the ballot for the same post, the Kampala Lord Mayorship.
On his Facebook wall yesterday morning, he referred to the malpractice in the just concluded presidential and parliamentary elections but asked Kampala voters not to lose hope.
“I kindly request you not to become despondent. And to the voters in Kampala, the spirit may have been dampened, but kindly turn up in big numbers tomorrow to vote,” his Facebook post read in part.
He will be contesting with Mr Daniel Kazibwe, aka Ragga Dee (NRM), and Issa Kikungwe (DP).
Mr Lukwago, whose tenure has been marred by controversy, is however poised to win the race given the overwhelming support he enjoys in the city. The vocal lawyer and former MP for Kampala Central is seen as the voice of the wretched of Kampala, a thing that has won him popular support from, especially taxi operators, hawkers and the homeless.
The numbers
At least 377 candidates will today compete for district leadership, 193 of them as independents.
This is more than what the ruling party, the NRM fielded for the same: 110—a candidate in each of the contestable district but Alebtong.
A list of candidates contesting for the district chair shows the People‘s Progressive Party is the least represented with only one candidate.
The Democratic Party (DP), the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) and the Uganda peoples Congress (UPC) share 71 candidates among themselves—15, 43 and 13, respectively. Jeema tags along with only two candidates.
Eleven candidates are already unopposed, all belonging to NRM.
Jinja
Jinja District is the most hotly contested district, with eight candidates. The competition will be between five Independents notably the former district chairman, Lt Hannington Bakasana (Independent), perennial contestant Robert Kanusu, who recently ditched his mother party UPC to join Go Forward and candidates from the three main political parties.
A former Jinja chairperson and retired soldier, Lt Basakana is in the race carrying the baggage of his past leadership. To some in Jinja, Lt Basakana, is arrogant and abusive. Stories are told in Jinja of Mr Basakana driving in the middle of the road and refusing to give way on the pretext that he is the district CEO (chief administrative officer) and has the right to drive as he wills. He always moves with a cane to whip idle youth to work.
Other districts with a clogged contest include Otuke, Sembabule, Tororo, Nwoya and Butambala, each with six contestants.
In Kamuli District, the competition is between Mr Thomas Kategere (NRM), who is tussling it out with four Independents.
In Masaka District, major competition is between the Democratic Party’s Jude Mbabaali and the incumbent NRM chairperson, Mr Joseph Kalungi.
Mr Mbabaali, a lawyer by profession, has previously contested for the Bukoto Central constituency but has twice been defeated controversially by the incumbent MP, Mr Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi
He is in today’s race with the full backing of DP and expects to beat the incumbent, whose term has been dogged with lack of street lighting and lack of a district headquarters. Currently, the district leadership is housed in Buganda Kingdom buildings.
Mr Mbabaali has been campaigning on the promise of securing a district headquarters and delivering a lit Masaka. Tapping into his legal practice, he opened a law firm in the district to offer pro bono legal service to his people.
Mukono
In Mukono, the district chairperson race has attracted four competitors: Mr Andrew Ssenyonga (NRM), Mr Musa Kiggundu (Independent), Mr Tom Fisher Kasenge (Independent), a former RDC Mukono District and Mr Godfrey Kirega Musisi (DP).
Mr Ssenyonga, who has twice contested for this seat and failed, stands higher chances of winning the race given the overwhelming support he enjoys and because his main competitor, Francis Lukooya opted to contest for the Nakifuma County MP seat.
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