UgandaToday: From the Umbrella to Victory: Balimwezo’s Triumph and Kampala’s New Dawn
By Uganda Today
KAMPALA, Uganda — In the dawn of 2026, the streets of Kampala echoed with more than just the rumble of boda bodas and the calls of hawkers — they resonated with the cadence of change. On 23 January 2026, in a contest that gripped the heart of the capital, National Unity Platform’s (NUP) Ronald Balimwezo Nsubuga emerged victorious in the Kampala Lord Mayoral race, decisively defeating seven rivals to claim the coveted seat of city leadership for the next five years.
Decisive Numbers from the Polls
The city’s returning officer formally declared the results after counting ballots from across Kampala’s five divisions. The official figures revealed:
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Ronald Balimwezo Nsubuga (NUP) — 141,220 votes (clear leader)
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Moses Kizito Nsubuga (NRM) — 43,615 votes
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Erias Lukwago (PFF) — 41,915 votes
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Beatrice Mao (DP) — 2,162 votes
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Naggayi Nabilah Sempala (Independent) — 1,854 votes
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Kasozi Ibrahim Biribawa (FDC) — 1,427 votes
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Kibalama Eddie Bazira (Independent) — 188 votes
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Yamureebire Jothan (Independent) — 119 votes
A total of 232,500 valid votes were cast, with 3,527 rejected ballots and 1,047 spoilt papers — figures that underscored both the enthusiasm and the organizational challenges of an urban electorate yearning for transformation.
A Win Above the Rooftops
Balimwezo’s triumph did not merely end the three-term tenure of veteran politician Erias Lukwago, who once steered the city through years of spirited, if contentious, leadership — it signalled a new chapter in Kampala’s political narrative.
But numbers alone cannot fully tell the story.
As the final tally was read at Makerere University Business School’s playground tally centre, waves of jubilation rippled through the city like sunrise over Lake Victoria. Supporters unfurled umbrellas — the emblem of NUP — and erupted in jubilant chants. The anthem of expectation transformed into celebration.
The Race That Danced Through Kampala
As evening wilted into night, the newly-elected mayor did not retreat to City Hall or a hotel suite. Instead, in a scene that will be etched in the capital’s lore, Balimwezo took to the streets, not with ceremonial pomp, but on foot — running, laughing, fist-bumping motorists, boda riders and pedestrians alike.
In Kisementi and Kamwokya, along Parliament Avenue and near City Square, residents saw him sprint through the traffic, a yellow campaign cap perched atop his brow, thanking every voter with a jubilant fist bump. Men paused their engines, boda bodas swayed in applause, and even taxi drivers leaned on their horns in rhythmic salute.
Some said Balimwezo’s celebration was spontaneous. Others whispered it was his signature — the engineer-turned-mayor sprinting with the city’s heartbeat. Either way, it was Kampala at its most human: vibrant, musical, alive.
A City Breathing Change
In his acceptance speech later that night, Balimwezo spoke not as a victor enthroned above the people, but as one walking beside them:
“This victory is not mine — it belongs to every voice that chose hope over stagnation. Together, we must build a Kampala that flows with opportunity, with dignity, with unity.”
His vision, he said, hinges on tackling the city’s long-standing challenges — from clogged drainage and dilapidated roads to crowded markets and congested streets — through inclusive governance and teamwork rather than political rivalry.
Looking Forward
As Kampala resets its political compass, all eyes are on Balimwezo — the man who ran with the city in his heart and promised to run the city with its people in mind.
This was no ordinary election. It was a chorus of Kampala’s hopes, translated into ballots. And in its outcome, the city heard a new rhythm — of promise, of change, and of possibility.
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