Mbale City, Uganda: Celebrations erupted in Mbale City on Thursday after Lydia Wanyoto Mutende, popularly known as Big Sister, was declared the NRM flag bearer for the Mbale City Woman Member of Parliament seat ahead of the 2026 general elections.
Wanyoto, who lost the 2021 parliamentary race to incumbent seat holder Hon. Connie Nakayenze Galiwango, reclaimed her grip on the NRM flag after defeating her closest challengers, Dr. Sarah Wasagali Kanaabi and Ritah Namuwenge, in what was widely viewed as a highly competitive primary contest.
According to official results declared by the NRM district elections officer, Wanyoto secured 52,299 votes, trouncing Dr. Kanaabi (14,601 votes) and Namuwenge (8,775 votes). The declaration sparked scenes of jubilation among her supporters across Mbale City, capping weeks of tense campaigns characterized by accusations of intimidation, money influence, and sporadic violence.
Despite holding the NRM flag in 2021, Wanyoto lost the general election to Connie Nakayenze Galiwango, who stood as an independent candidate and polled 40,726 votes against Wanyoto’s 25,276.
Addressing the media after her victory, Wanyoto said her win was a victory for Mbale women and a sign of renewed faith in her leadership. “I will focus on uniting our people and delivering on promises of better representation, improved service delivery, and advocating for women’s empowerment,” she said.
Nakayenze, who is the widow of former Uganda High Commissioner to Seychelles, Amb. Hassan Wasswa Galiwango confirmed she will again contest as an independent, dismissing earlier rumours she was retiring from politics.
She attributed her recent low public visibility to personal tragedies following the death of her husband and father, as well as lengthy and costly legal battles after the 2021 elections.
“It was not deliberate. I spent two years in court and lost my father. Then my husband fell ill and passed on. It was a very difficult time,” Nakayenze told DailyExpress.
The incumbent seat holder vowed to defend her seat, citing mistrust in NRM’s electoral processes. “I no longer trust the NRM primaries. They are fraudulent. That is why I am coming as an independent,” she said.
If successful, Nakayenze will serve her fourth consecutive term in Parliament, having previously represented Mbale District before Mbale City was carved out.
About Lydia Wanyoto:
Wanyoto is a lawyer, politician, and former Deputy Special Representative to the African Union Commission, previously stationed in Addis Ababa and Mogadishu. She served as Acting Head of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) in 2014 and was elected in 2001 to the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA).
A seasoned mobilizer within the NRM, Wanyoto is also the widow of James Shinyabulo Mutende, Uganda’s former State Minister for Industry, who passed away in 2015.
About Connie Nakayenze Galiwango:
Nakayenze is a veteran legislator and educator, having started her career at Nabuyonga Primary School and later Mbale High School. She has served as Mbale District Woman MP (2011-2016) and Mbale City Woman MP (2021-present). Her academic credentials include a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences and a Master’s in Education Management from the Islamic University in Uganda.
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