Engineer Ronald Balimwezo, the incumbent Member of Parliament for Nakawa East, has in Thursday’s polls brought to an end the long reign of Erias Lukwago as Kampala Lord Mayor, a position Lukwago has held since 2011.
Balimwezo emerged victorious in the Kampala Lord Mayoral race, defeating the incumbent Lukwago by a clear margin, according to provisional results released from various polling stations across the city. Official final vote tallies were still being compiled by the Electoral Commission at the time of filing this report.
The contest attracted eight candidates, including two women, but ultimately narrowed into a tight battle between Balimwezo and Lukwago, with Balimwezo gaining the upper hand in several key divisions.
Beyond Balimwezo and Lukwago, the race featured Beatrice Nambi Mao (DP), Ibrahim Kasozi (FDC), Moses Kizito Nsubuga (NRM), and independents Eddy Bazira, Nabilah Naggayi Ssempala, and Jothan Yamureebire Burobuto.
Lukwago, a city lawyer by training, has led Kampala City Hall for 15 years, having first been elected Lord Mayor in 2011. He was seeking to extend his leadership into a fourth term, making him one of the longest-serving political figures in the capital’s governance history.
Balimwezo, a civil engineer and former Nakawa Division Mayor, campaigned on a platform centered on infrastructure development, improved service delivery, and technical solutions to Kampala’s persistent urban challenges such as flooding, traffic congestion, and waste management. His victory signals a significant shift in the city’s political landscape and reflects growing voter appetite for new leadership at City Hall.
As Kampala awaits the official declaration of final results, Balimwezo’s win marks a historic transition in the city’s leadership and sets the stage for a new chapter in the governance of Uganda’s capital.
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