Zambaali Blasio Mukasa Soars Ahead in NUP Nansana MP Race

— As NUP Dominance Grows Amid Political Repression

NANSANA, UGANDA | www.ugandatoday.co.ug – With the National Unity Platform (NUP) primary elections drawing closer, the race for the party flag in Nansana Municipality has taken a decisive turn. Former media personality and celebrated news anchor, Zambaali Blasio Mukasa, has emerged as the overwhelming frontrunner among the NUP contenders for the Member of Parliament seat, commanding 70% of projected support according to internal party assessments.

Zambaali, who rose to national prominence as a prime-time Luganda news anchor on Buganda Broadcasting Services (BBS TV) and NBS TV, transitioned from the newsroom to the political arena with a message rooted in justice, service, and Pan-Africanist principles. His resonance with the urban electorate of Nansana—an area teeming with youth, market vendors, boda boda riders, and politically conscious residents—has positioned him as the candidate to beat.

A Hotbed of Political Contest

With its densely populated jurisdiction, Nansana has historically been a microcosm of opposition strength and state repression. In the 2021 general elections, it delivered a resounding victory to NUP, underscoring the party’s stronghold in the urban centers of Wakiso District. This year’s internal contest is no exception, drawing a diverse field of aspirants seeking to carry the red flag of NUP into the 2026 general elections.

The Pack: A Mix of Experience, Youth, and Community Grounding

Zambaali is not alone in this race. The NUP primaries for Nansana Municipality have attracted a powerful blend of political voices: The Incumbent Wakayima Musoke is contemplating coming out of the race in favour of Zambaali.

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• Zambaali Blasio Mukasa, rose to national prominence as a prime-time Luganda news anchor on Buganda Broadcasting Services (BBS TV) and NBS TV

• Sserunkuuma Johnbosco, a long-standing party foot soldier known for his grassroots loyalty and organizational muscle;

• Mayanja Ibrahim, also known as Big Eye is a musician with strong appeal among boda boda riders and informal sector workers;

• Fred Luyinda, a community development practitioner with a track record in local service delivery;

• Enoch Kintu, a policy-oriented figure seeking to bring technocratic discipline to legislative work;

• Engineer Kaweesa, a quiet but strategic contender leveraging his technical background and development agenda;

• Kyambadde Juliet Kayaga, the only woman in the race, whose advocacy for women, children, and health services has earned her strong support among market vendors and mothers’ unions.

NUP’s Rising Tide Across Uganda: Why the NUP Card is Coveted

The unfolding developments in Nansana mirror a larger national trend: NUP’s grip on the political imagination of many Ugandans, particularly in Buganda, Busoga, and urban centers across the country, continues to deepen.

In districts such as Mukono, Jinja, Masaka,Mityana and Kalungu, NUP is witnessing an influx of both youthful and seasoned political aspirants vying for its ticket. The competitiveness of its primaries—from LC1 levels to parliamentary seats—speaks volumes about the party’s grassroots penetration and its status as Uganda’s leading opposition force.

Battling on Two Fronts: A Party Under Siege — Yet Unyielding

However, the party’s internal democratic processes are unfolding under persistent repression from the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) regime. NUP leaders and mobilisers have reported cases of arbitrary arrests, intimidation, blocked radio talk shows, and surveillance—measures widely seen as attempts to curtail the party’s momentum ahead of 2026.

NUP President Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, also known as Bobi Wine, has consistently condemned the repression, calling on Ugandans to remain defiant and united. “What we’re witnessing is the fear of people’s power. But we shall not retreat. We shall organize, mobilize, and build a new Uganda,” he recently declared at a party gathering in Buvuma islands .

Looking Ahead

As Nansana and other municipalities prepare for the NUP primaries, all eyes remain on the integrity of the process and the strength of the candidates that emerge. Should Zambaali Blasio Mukasa maintain his momentum, he could become one of the most recognizable new faces in Uganda’s 12th Parliament come 2026.

For many Nansana voters, Zambaali represents more than just a candidate—he embodies the aspiration of the ghetto child, the working class, and the media fraternity, all united in their desire for accountability, dignity, and a new dawn.

Published by www.ugandatoday.co.ug, your trusted source for news and analysis

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