Sironko, Uganda: The political landscape in Sironko District shifted irreversibly on Friday, May 23, as veteran mobiliser and businessman Mafabi Suleiman Lumolo was declared unopposed for the position of National Resistance Movement (NRM) District Chairperson.
Lumolo’s sole challenger, the State Minister for Karamoja Affairs and District Woman MP Florence Nambozo, fled the venue moments before voting began, leaving her supporters and the media in confusion.
Cheers erupted across the hills of Bugisu as Lumolo arrived at Nampanga Primary School polling station, carried shoulder-high by jubilant youth and welcomed by elders and flag-waving party loyalists. The dramatic contrast of Nambozo’s silent exit, widely interpreted as a symbolic concession of defeat, cemented Lumolo’s stature as the undisputed political powerhouse of Sironko.
“I am grateful to the people of Sironko for trusting me again. We must now focus on uniting the party and delivering on our mandate,” Lumolo said shortly after his declaration.
However, Nambozo dismissed the process as rigged and one-sided. “As a candidate, I demanded to be availed a register but the administrative secretary told me that there was no law that mandates him to avail the register to a candidate. My supporters were denied access to the polling station,” she said.
Her withdrawal followed an earlier pullout from the Mutufu Sub-county NRM Women’s League re-election, where she cited irregularities and voter intimidation.
The election formed part of the ongoing nationwide NRM internal structure polls to renew leadership at all levels ahead of the 2026 general elections.
Lumolo’s Political Legacy and NRM Loyalty
Mr. Mafabi Lumolo has led the NRM in Sironko for over two decades, often unopposed. He is widely recognised as a community mobiliser and political strategist who backs his leadership with tangible actions. He was the first Ugandan to build a permanent NRM office, furnished, staffed, and operational year-round. His personal resources have supported district party events, including logistics, transportation, and upkeep for delegates.
He remains instrumental in monitoring presidential pledges, notably influencing the establishment of the Prof. Dani Nabudere Memorial Institute in Buyobo Sub-county and the Wapa Memorial Institute of Nursing and Midwifery in Mafudu Sub-county. He played a pivotal role in lobbying for the tarmacking of the Nalugugu–Budadiri–Namagumba road.
During the 2020 campaigns, Lumolo personally contributed over UGX 100 million to supplement presidential campaign funding across Sironko villages, often doubling allocations in more populated areas. He ensured every NRM LC1 and sub-county chairperson received their campaign motorcycles and bicycles.
In addition, he moved alongside all NRM flag bearers, from MPs to LC5 and LC3 candidates, during general elections, hosting reconciliation meetings to ensure cohesion. Even his past rivals have benefited from his strategic generosity.
In 2016, Hon. Nambozo herself received campaign funds and grassroots mobilisation support directly from Lumolo. He has also facilitated quarterly strategy meetings with councillors, opinion leaders, and sub-county chairpersons, often funding them personally to strengthen understanding of the NRM manifesto.
Lumolo the Enabler: Jobs, Training, and Economic Empowerment
Beyond politics, Lumolo uses his private businesses and farm to empower locals with jobs, seed capital, and skills training. He has distributed heifers to NRM mobilisers, trained youth in modern agriculture, and offered seed capital to SACCOs and small enterprises. Through his lobbying efforts, he has facilitated government job placements for loyal NRM cadres in institutions like NIRA, RDC offices, and commissions.
Lumolo also spearheaded the formation of the district’s NRM SACCO, providing capital to economically empower party leaders and sustain grassroots mobilisation.
The Lumolo Manifesto: What Sironko Should Expect
As NRM Chairperson, Lumolo is expected to pursue:
- Deepened grassroots economic empowerment through SACCOs and rural investments.
- Skilling hubs for youth and women in tailoring, carpentry, and agribusiness.
- Transparent tracking of government service delivery and project implementation.
- Restoration of party cohesion by bridging factional divides and affirming discipline in leadership.
Lumolo does not seek power—it follows him. And with Friday’s unopposed re-election, Sironko affirmed that his legacy is far from done.
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