By Mulengera Reporters
Kampala’s political temperature is rising fast, as 46 candidates have officially been nominated for parliamentary races in the capital, setting the tone for what promises to be one of Uganda’s most electrifying election cycles in years.
The Electoral Commission (EC) offices in Ntinda became a hive of activity, as seasoned politicians, fresh challengers, and curious onlookers poured in to witness the beginning of a race that could redefine the capital’s leadership.
By midday, the EC’s Returning Officer, Rashid Hasashya, had already issued a firm warning to all aspirants:“No rallies, no campaign processions not until the official campaign window opens.”
But even as the rules were read out, the energy on the ground was unmistakably political.
The day’s first nominee, Muhammad Nsubuga, an independent candidate for Kawempe South, walked into the nomination centre with quiet determination.
But it was the arrival of Elias Luyimbazi Nalukoola, the newly-minted NUP MP defending his seat after a chaotic by-election that drew murmurs from the crowd.
His brief tenure in Parliament, coming after the death of Muhammad Ssegirinya, has already seen legal battles and court drama. And while the High Court called for a fresh vote, the appeal window has lapsed, allowing Nalukoola to approach the January 15 polls with the weight and visibility of incumbency.
In contrast to the youthful energy of Nalukoola’s campaign, Fred Ruhindi’s return to politics carried the air of a seasoned operator making a measured comeback.
Once Uganda’s Attorney General, Ruhindi was all smiles as he presented his nomination papers for Nakawa East, a constituency carved from the larger Nakawa area he previously represented.
He spoke of “a return to values” and pledged “clean, transparent, and corruption-free leadership.”
But perhaps the day’s most unexpected entry came wrapped in sports fame and political ambition: Moses Muhangi, the no-nonsense Uganda Boxing Federation president.
A former champion in the ring, Muhangi now seeks to punch his way into Kampala Central as an independent.
His critics dismiss him as a publicity stunt, a sideshow next to the likes of Kampala Minister Minsa Kabanda, but Muhangi is undeterred.
“Boxing taught me how to fight fair, to stand my ground, and to never back down,” he said. “Politics needs exactly that.”
Observers were quick to connect the dots between Muhangi’s entry and his long-standing friction with FUFA president Moses Magogo, now MP for Budiope East.
But with Parliament Speaker Anita Among, Magogo’s wife — already seated at the apex of legislative power, Muhangi’s path may prove lonelier than expected.
The list of aspirants reads like a cross-section of Kampala’s political soul: from celebrity-turned-politician Tuff B (Robert Ssekidde) seeking Makindye East, to Fred Nyanzi Ssentamu, brother to Bobi Wine, defending the red colours of NUP in Kawempe South.
Meanwhile, incumbents like Abubaker Kawalya (Rubaga North) are returning with renewed zeal, while others, like Eugene Nassolo (Rubaga South) and Winifred Nakandi (Nakawa East), are testing the waters for the first time.
Security at the EC offices remains tight, with police filtering entry and journalists jostling for the best angles.
Aspirants were only allowed in with two representatives, a precaution to avoid the kind of overcrowding that marred previous nomination seasons.
But behind the formalities, the real contest is only beginning. The streets of Kampala may be quiet for now, but in campaign rooms and WhatsApp groups, the fight has already begun.
The Electoral Commission wraps up nominations Thursday. What follows could be Kampala’s fiercest campaign season in a generation. Because in Kampala, politics isn’t a game. It’s a fight.
