Kampala, Uganda: The 2026 General Election reshaped Kampala’s political map, ending the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP)’s previous clean sweep of parliamentary seats in the capital and handing the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) an unexpected comeback.
Unlike the 2021 polls, where NUP dominated all the city constituencies, the latest vote saw NRM reclaim three of Kampala’s ten parliamentary seats, signalling a more competitive political contest in the city.
The NRM’s breakthrough came in Kampala Central, where Minsa Kabanda, who also serves as Minister for Kampala, defeated NUP Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya to claim the seat for the ruling party.
In Kawempe South, NRM flag bearer Madina Nsereko pulled off a major upset, defeating Fred Nyanzi Ssentamu, brother to NUP president Robert Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine), in a highly contested race.
The ruling party also regained Nakawa East, where former Deputy Attorney General Fred Ruhindi defeated jailed NUP deputy spokesperson Alex Waiswa Mufumbiro to reclaim the seat he previously had when it was still Nakawa division.
Despite the setbacks, NUP retained a majority of Kampala’s parliamentary seats, maintaining its dominance in several key divisions.
In Nakawa West, for example, Joel Ssenyonyi, the Leader of Opposition in Parliament, comfortably defended his seat after defeating eight challengers. Ssenyonyi polled 21,765 votes, far ahead of NRM’s Anderson Burora, who garnered 9,586 votes.
Other contenders in Nakawa West posted modest tallies: Ivan Bwowe (People’s Front for Freedom) received 271 votes, Wilberforce Kyambadde (FDC) 396, Happy Nsasira (Democratic Front) 301, Norbert Vincent Okumu (UPC) 198, Felix Okuye 404, and Rwamiti Apuuli (Common Man’s Party) 342.
In Kawempe North, incumbent Elias Nalukoola Luyimbazi held onto his seat after defeating NRM’s Faridah Nambi.
Meanwhile, in Rubaga Division, the Electoral Commission declared Abubakar Kawalya and Zahara Luyirika as winners, while Shamim Malende retained the Kampala Woman MP seat.
President Yoweri Museveni has previously blamed Kampala’s chronic service delivery challenges on the city’s opposition-dominated political leadership, arguing that opposition MPs often fail to effectively lobby government for resources on behalf of their constituents.
With NRM now securing a foothold in the capital, attention shifts to whether the new political balance in Kampala’s parliamentary representation will translate into improved cooperation with the central government and tangible service delivery gains for city residents.
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