By BM
The Kampala Lord Mayor race got off to a dramatic start as National Unity Platform (NUP) flag bearer Ronald Balimwezo was officially nominated on Thursday, only for a confrontation to erupt hours later between police and his supporters in Bwaise, casting a tense shadow over the campaign season.
Earlier in the day, Balimwezo was cleared by the Electoral Commission at the Kampala district offices in Ntinda.
Accompanied by his wife, Rachel Balimwezo, and a delegation of senior NUP leaders including MPs Erias Nalukoola Luyimbazi, Abubaker Kawalya, and party spokesperson Waiswa Mufumbiro, Balimwezo submitted all necessary documents and was duly declared a valid candidate by Kampala District Returning Officer Rashid Hasakya.
Before the events in Bwaise unfolded, the Electoral Commission had already issued a firm reminder to all aspirants: no campaigns are permitted until October 4, 2025, when the official campaign period begins with presidential candidates.
EC spokesperson Julius Mucunguzi emphasized the need for compliance with the electoral roadmap to ensure fairness and order.
Rashid Hasakya, the Returning Officer for Kampala district, emphasized this before Balimwezo that any candidate found engaging in rallies or campaign activities before that date risks disqualification.
But despite the EC’s advance warning, tensions flared when a crowd of supporters gathered to escort Balimwezo from the nomination center to the NUP headquarters.
In Bwaise, police officers blocked the procession, claiming it was unauthorized and a breach of public order regulations.
The standoff escalated when Rubaga South MP Aloysius Mukasa and NUP Deputy Spokesperson Waiswa Mufumbiro directly confronted the officers, accusing them of illegally disrupting a peaceful political event.
The heated exchange, captured on mobile phones and circulated widely on social media, saw opposition leaders accuse security forces of bias and harassment.
After several minutes of back-and-forth, police eventually allowed the procession to continue.
Balimwezo proceeded to the NUP headquarters, where he addressed supporters in his first post-nomination speech.
Speaking to a packed crowd, Balimwezo condemned what he called the continued interference of state security in opposition activities.
He promised a campaign focused on accountability, infrastructure reform, and defending the rights of ordinary Kampala residents.
Drawing on his background as a civil engineer and his history in local government, he vowed to fix the city’s roads, improve garbage collection, and reclaim public drainage channels from illegal occupation.
“If we had good leadership, Kampala would be the best city in Africa,” he said. “I became LC1 chairman at 19, I served as LC5 councilor and as Mayor of Nakawa, I was voted the best performing mayor. I know how to make this city work.”
NUP officials echoed his concerns. Mukasa warned that repeated police interference undermines the democratic process, while Mufumbiro accused security agencies of selectively enforcing the law to frustrate opposition mobilization.
He added that Balimwezo’s nomination marked a turning point for the party’s ambitions in the capital, promising a transformative campaign that puts the people first.
So far, only two candidates, Balimwezo and Beatrice Mao of the Democratic Party have been nominated in the hotly contested Lord Mayor race.
Others expected to join the fray include incumbent Erias Lukwago of the People’s Front for Freedom, FDC’s Ibrahim Kasozi, and independents such as Nabirah Naggayi Ssempala and Nashibah Namujjuzi.
With more than 50 Lord Councilor candidates already nominated and the nomination window open until October 16, political momentum is building fast.
But as Thursday’s events made clear, the road to City Hall may be anything but smooth. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
