Mukono LC5 Chairperson Race in Chaos as Winner Swapped Hours After Declaration

Confusion and tension erupted at the Mukono District tally centre yesterday after Johnson Muyanja Ssenyonga of the National Unity Platform (NUP) was initially declared winner of the Local Council Five (LCV) chairperson race, only for the result to be overturned hours later in favour of Francis Lukooya Mukoome of the ruling NRM.

Returning officer Emily Amongin first announced Mr Ssenyonga’s victory, indicating he had received 51,686 votes, narrowly beating Mr Lukooya, who had 50,254 votes. Supporters of the opposition candidate erupted in celebrations.

But the jubilation was short-lived. NRM officials, led by the party’s district chairperson Haruna Ssemakula, protested the announcement, claiming the figures were incorrectly tallied. After what witnesses described as a tense standoff, the returning officer rescinded her initial declaration.

When the process resumed, Ms Amongin declared Mr Lukooya the winner with 52,523 votes, while Mr Ssenyonga’s final tally stood at 52,105 votes. Independent candidate Lauben Ssenyonjo maintained a distant 2,995 votes.

Reasons Behind the Confusion

Analysts say several factors contributed to the chaotic declaration:

• Disputed tallies: Agents from both parties alleged miscounting or misreporting of votes during early counting.
• Pressure from party supporters: NRM officials insisted their candidate had won, refusing to accept the initial declaration.
• Ballot handling concerns: Some polling agents claimed irregularities at specific stations, though no official evidence has been released.

The incident reflects wider tension across the country in the 2026 general elections, where both national and local results have seen disputes, protests, and accusations of manipulation.

Reactions

NRM leaders hailed Mr Lukooya’s eventual declaration as accurate and reflective of voters’ will. Conversely, NUP supporters rejected the reversal, claiming the original announcement of Mr Ssenyonga’s win was legitimate and that the process was undermined by interference.

The Electoral Commission (EC) has yet to issue an official statement, leaving questions about the integrity of the process and the clarity of election results in Mukono.

Observers warn that such incidents risk eroding public confidence in local elections unless electoral authorities introduce clearer protocols and safeguards against interference.

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