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RONALD BALIMWEZO NSUBUGA DECLARED NEW KAMPALA LORD MAYOR
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Ronald Balimwezo Nsubuga of the National Unity Platform (NUP) has been declared the new Lord Mayor of Kampala following a decisive victory over eight contenders, including long-serving incumbent Erias Lukwago.
The Kampala District Returning Officer, Jennifer Kyobutungi, announced Balimwezo’s win shortly before midnight at the Kampala District Tally Centre at Makerere University Business School (MUBS), Nakawa. The prolonged tally kept residents and Ugandans across the country anxiously awaiting the final results.
According to official figures, Balimwezo secured 141,220 votes out of 232,500 valid votes cast, translating into a commanding 76.4% win. His closest rival, Kizito Moses Nsubuga of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), garnered 43,615 votes (18.8%), leaving a margin of 97,605 votes.
Despite a lower voter turnout compared to recent presidential and parliamentary elections, Balimwezo performed strongly across all five divisions of Kampala. Erias Lukwago of the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) finished third with 41,915 votes, followed by Beatrice Mao of the Democratic Party (DP) with 2,162 votes.
Balimwezo brings decades of local government experience dating back to the 1980s. He began his political journey at Local Council One in Nakawa Division, rose to become Nakawa Division Mayor, and later won the Nakawa East parliamentary seat in 2021. He now returns to City Hall as Lord Mayor.
In his victory speech, Balimwezo thanked God for his triumph and expressed gratitude to NUP leadership, particularly party president Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, for their trust and confidence. He pledged to work tirelessly to transform Kampala into a modern, inclusive, and well-managed city.
Balimwezo was accompanied by his wife, the Leader of the Opposition, and several senior NUP leaders as he was officially declared the next Lord Mayor of Kampala.
