Jinja mayoral race draws 13 contenders as NUP’s Kirunda squeezes through

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Jinja city’s mayoral race is shaping up to be unusually competitive, with 13 candidates officially nominated to vie for the city’s top leadership position.

This surge reflects a growing appetite for change and a search for leadership that transcends traditional party boundaries.

National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate Kirunda Mubarak nearly missed out on the nomination exercise due to irregularities in his documents.

Kirunda, dressed in a white kanzu, red beret and red coat, was bounced more than six times as he presented his papers for verification. Flanked by former Jinja city speaker Morrison Bizitu, he appeared frustrated and panicked as he made repeated phone calls seeking intervention.

At one point, he handed his mobile phone to Jinja city returning officer Flavia Nakasi during a call from NUP headquarters, but the move failed to secure his clearance.

Nakasi explained that Kirunda, a first-time entrant, faced challenges because the names on his academic and nomination documents did not match those on his national identity card and the national voters' register.

His academic papers carried three names: Kirunda Mubarak Edirisa, while the other documents listed him as Kirunda Mubarak. Although he had a deed poll, he had not presented it to the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) to effect the changes.

After being given options to either process the deed poll with NIRA or drop the third name to align with the other documents, Kirunda and his team managed to rectify the issues before 5:00 pm, and he was duly nominated.

Kirunda will now face 12 other candidates, including Al Hajj Nagaya Abdulhafidh of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), Jeff Bidindi, David Isabirye Musenze, Humphrey Mutassa (an NRM primary loser), Geoffrey Lubowa Lubega of the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF), and Simon Nsadha of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC). 

Independent candidates include Alton Kasolo, the incumbent Jinja city mayor, Ali Ngia, Julius Zziwa, Hassan Kapere, Benedicto Isiko and Wilson Bogere.

Journalist Wycliffe Ofwono of the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) was also nominated, bringing the number of journalists in the race to three.

In the council races, People with Disabilities (PWD) councillors Juma Ssozi (works) and Fazira Kawuma, the current deputy mayor, went through unopposed, as did John Muweema for older persons. The workers’ race attracted seven contenders, three male and four females.

Nakasi concluded that a total of 78 candidates were nominated for directly elected councillor, women, male and youth seats in both Northern and Southern divisions of Jinja city. She noted the exercise was peaceful, with most candidates who booked in turning up, though a few did not.

Nakasi reminded the public that campaigns are not yet authorised, as nominations for division mayors and councillors are scheduled for September 8–10, 2025.