Kampala, (UG): The Uganda Electoral Commission announced Thursday, January 16, that it will conduct the by-election to fill the void for the Member of Parliament for Kawempe North, following the demise of former MP, Muhammad Ssegirinya.
Ssegirinya, 37, died on January 9, 2025, at Rubaga Hospital and was buried last Sunday, January 12, at Butale Cell in Kadugala in Masaka District.
During the burial (which turned chaotic on Sunday), the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) party President to which the late MP belonged, Mr Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu aka Bobi Wine said the party will front a candidate who has the same vision as Ssegirinya.
Customarily, the EC is mandated to hold a by-election once the Clerk to Parliament notifies it of a vacant member of parliament seat in the event that the occupant of the seat dies, or is thrown out of parliament by a court ruling.
The by-election is however held if the lawmaker dies at least six months to the elections of Members of Parliament.
Following the declaration of the by-election, a number of individuals have come out to show candidacy in the Kawempe North MP seat, including Ssegirinya’s Personal Assistant, who was allegedly fronted and endorsed by the late’s family.
Out of the nine candidates whom DailyExpress has learnt of their interest, four are from NUP, three others from the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party, and one each from the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) and People’s Front for Freedom (PFF).
The NUP quartet includes Mr Umar Magala, Mr Erias Luyimbazi Nalukoola, Mr Alex Luswa Luwemba, and Mr Salif Sserunkuuma, while the NRM trio includes Ms Juliet Namale, Mr Ali Moses Jjemba, and Mr George Mutumba Onesmus. PFF has fronted Mr Muhammad Mutazindwa and Mr Ismail Musitwa for PPP. Below, we light a torch into each of the candidates
Alex ‘Muhammad’ Luswa Luwemba (NUP)

Luwemba, 27, a former personal assistant to the late Muhammad Ssegirinya, is committed to upholding his mentor’s vision for Kawempe North. A journalist with a Diploma in Journalism and a law student, Luwemba promises to represent the interests of his constituents through Ssegirinya’s five pillars of leadership.
He plans to expand youth empowerment programs, maintaining the metal fabrication workshop that has already skilled over 500 youths and registered 200 more this year. Luwemba also aims to double the beneficiaries of the “Seg Box” initiative, which provides financial and educational support to vulnerable residents.
Through the Muhammad Ssegirinya Foundation, he pledges to support the disabled, orphans, and other vulnerable groups with resources such as wheelchairs and bursaries. Luwemba also plans to engage international sponsors to secure advanced fire extinguishers, continuing the deceased leader’s safety advocacy efforts.
With a focus on continuity and progress, Luwemba seeks to build on Ssegirinya’s legacy for a brighter future in Kawempe North.
Umar Magala (NUP)

Umar Magala, the Kawempe North NUP coordinator and a professional teacher, is committed to revitalizing projects initiated by Ssegirinya, including the hospital, ambulance services, youth skilling programs, and efforts to improve living conditions in the constituency.
With a track record of community service ranging from leadership roles in education to spearheading a borehole project in Kyebando, Magala plans to empower roadside vendors and the elderly, focusing on enhancing their livelihoods.
He also pledges to advocate for the release of political prisoners, improve education and healthcare services, and dedicate his first parliamentary salary to community development initiatives.
Counsel Luyimbazi Nalukoola (NUP)

Nalukoola, a former Democratic Party legal advisor and human rights advocate now running under NUP, is committed to addressing poverty, ignorance, and disease while nurturing young talent in football and music. He has supported the Kawempe Youth Football Association, which hosts annual tournaments for youth aged 12 to 18, and plans to introduce catering, craft-making, and tailoring skills to empower his constituents.
Using his legal expertise, Nalukoola vows to fight for justice for the oppressed and ensure accountability in local government resource allocation for roads, hospitals, and water supply. He also pledges to advocate for better-equipped government health facilities with adequate medicine and personnel, alongside pushing for judicial reforms and independence through parliamentary advocacy.
Salif Sserunkuuma (NUP)

Salif Sserunkuuma, popularly known as “Mafu Mafu,” is focused on addressing unemployment and improving living conditions in Kawempe North. He promises to engage industries to create job opportunities for the youth and collaborate with stakeholders to enhance sanitation in the constituency.
Sserunkuuma’s leadership aims to bring practical solutions to the pressing challenges faced by his constituents. “I will contact industries around so that our youth are employed and will partner with many stakeholders to improve sanitation,” he said.
Muhammad Mutazindwa (PFF)

Muhammad Mutazindwa, the PFF candidate and an experienced educationist, pledges to sustain Ssegirinya’s projects without renaming or rebranding them. As the director of Musayfa Junior School-Katooke, Mutazindwa is passionate about extending affordable education to poor communities and supporting vulnerable children.
He currently oversees more than 1,300 partial and 30 full bursaries across schools and plans to expand these opportunities. Additionally, Mutazindwa aims to create jobs and empower the youth, emphasizing a people-centered leadership approach to make impactful decisions for the constituency.
Mutazindwa’s vision prioritizes education, opportunity, and progress for Kawempe North.
Juliet Namale (NRM)

Juliet Namale, the sole female candidate in the Kawempe North MP race, is one of the three candidates of the ruling NRM party. Namale says she is aimed at championing the rights of marginalized groups, including women, children, the elderly, and people with disabilities, with a focus on improving their quality of life and living standards.
She pledges to address urban health challenges such as air pollution, non-communicable diseases, and respiratory infections while advocating for affordable healthcare through innovative funding and partnerships.
Namale also prioritizes industrialization and job creation, aiming to support small industries in Kawempe North. Additionally, she promises to empower the informal sector; boda bodas, taxis, market vendors, and more by providing affordable loans and storage facilities to boost livelihoods.
Her vision centers on transforming Kawempe North into a hub of opportunity and improved living standards for all.
Jjemba Moses Ali (NRM)

Jjemba Moses Ali, a former Kasangati Deputy RDC, is focused on enhancing service delivery and implementing government programs like the Parish Development Model (PDM), Emyooga, and Livelihood Programs in Kawempe North.
He emphasizes that political affiliation should not hinder access to these initiatives, aiming to foster unity and empower all residents regardless of their party. Jjemba’s vision is to restore sanity and ensure equitable development in Kawempe North by bridging political divides and aligning the constituency with national progress. Jjemba is a Bachelor of Laws graduate.
George Mutumba Onesmus (NRM)

Mutumba, the current LC3 Councillor for Kawempe I and Speaker of the Kawempe Division, is dedicated to promoting peace and security in Kawempe North. As Youth General Secretary of the National Youth Council for Kawempe, his manifesto focuses on creating job opportunities, empowering women, reducing gender-based violence, and advocating for human rights and the rule of law.
Mutumba also pledges to improve sanitation, enhance access to social services, and ensure equitable resource distribution. Additionally, he aims to rebrand the NRM’s image in Kawempe North by fostering trust and unity across the community.
What to expect in Kawempe North By-election
The Electoral Commission Thursday said it will organize and conduct a by-election to fill the vacancy within 60 days, in accordance with Clause 2 of Article 81 of the 1995 Constitution of Uganda.
At the time of filing the story, the roadmap for the Kawempe North MP By-election was not yet out but the electoral process to front a candidate within the vying parties is already underway to ensure a heated election takes place.
The Kampala City Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago speaking at Sunday’s burial urged the Opposition to front a sole candidate to run against the NRM candidate.
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