Makindye West: Will NRM’s political sword prevail over NUP?

If you visit Makindye West today, Fred Mukasa, an elder from Lukuli, said, you would think the entire country is in election fever. With a few months left until presidential and parliamentary nominations ahead of the 2026 general election, Makindye West already feels like it is in full election mode. The streets are buzzing, posters are everywhere, and politicians are making their presence felt — sometimes daily.

For two years, Ali Nganda Mulyanyama had been sharpening his political sword, ready for battle.

His mission? To storm City Hall and dethrone the long-serving Lord Mayor, Erias Lukwago, in what he promised would be a “landslide victory” in 2026.

His supporters rallied behind him, his name grew louder in Kampala’s political corridors, and the stage was set for an epic showdown.

Then, just like that — plot twist! One morning, Kampala woke up to shocking news: Mulyanyama had abandoned his lord mayor ambitions and was now gunning for Parliament, setting his sights on Makindye West, to oust its current MP, Allan Sewanyana. For a man who had vowed to take over City Hall, this sudden detour had tongues wagging.

“It was going to be a brutal fight between Lukwago and me. But I figured — why not take a different route? Let me first go to Parliament, learn a few things and then, come back for City Hall in 2031.

Even Lukwago first served as Kampala Central MP before becoming Lord Mayor,” Mulyanyama said.

But was this change of heart truly his own? Or was there a bigger force pulling the strings behind the scenes? While the reasons behind this move remain shrouded in mystery, insiders suggest that a much bigger political game is at play. Behind the scenes, there are growing talks of an alliance between NUP and Dr Kizza Besigye’s People’s Front for Freedom (PFF).

And guess who is rumoured to be a key pillar in this grand opposition plan for 2026? Erias Lukwago.

As NUP focuses on building an alliance with the Besigye group, a new formation is taking shape within the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).

So far, two names have emerged from the NRM camp: Doreen Keita, the former deputy resident city commissioner (RCC) of Makindye division (now deployed in Mpigi district), and Robert Kyagumba, a businessman with deep pockets.

Keita, in particular, is coming in with fire.

“My experience as RCC has prepared me for leadership,” she declared.

NRM's Doreen Keita.

“I have seen the struggles first-hand. While I was in Makindye, I watched as political fights dominated the arena. The office of the MP was barely functional. It was only the RCC’s office and a handful of councillors trying to keep things moving. You can’t deliver when the top leadership is missing in action! Our people don’t see this because they are focused on the wrong things. That’s why I am stepping in — to change that,” she added.

With Mulyanyama’s surprise move, Allan Sewanyana’s incumbency and NRM’s quiet but strategic mobilisation, the battle for Makindye West is shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable, high-stakes political showdowns of 2026.

One thing is certain — Makindye West voters are in for a dramatic political season and the race has only just begun.

But can Mulyanyama, the street-smart mayor with deep roots in Makindye’s political trenches, change the game? Among those vying for NUP’s ticket are businessman Farouk Ntege; the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) speaker, Zahara Luyirika, and the party’s head of institutions, David Musiri.

DP summons NEC meeting

For the Democratic Party (DP), sources said, the party is still mulling over its candidate. It has postponed the decision until after its national executive council (NEC) meeting in Soroti.

The DP NEC meeting in Soroti will also shape the party’s future as various contenders position their manifestos to match the party’s president, Norbert Mao, who is also the justice minister.

The party’s Bukoto Central MP, Richard Sebamala, insists that this time around, DP is determined to field “quality candidates” at all levels. However, Isaac Kabuye, who ran on DP’s ticket in 2021, isn’t waiting for official endorsements — he’s already pounding the streets of Makindye West, meeting voters and making his presence known.

From the JEEMA camp, reports suggest that Farouq Kyanjo, the son of the late Hussein Kyanjo — a firebrand politician who once represented the constituency — is gearing up to follow in his father’s footsteps.

When asked about Mulyanyama’s bid, Ssewanyana, a former DP stalwart, brushed it off with a smirk.

“I prefer discussing serious candidates,” Ssewanyana quipped. “But anyway, this won’t be my first time showing him his level. Back in 2011, when I first ran for office as a councillor, he was my opponent. And guess what? I defeated him,” Ssewanyana said.

Mulyanyama, unfazed by the remarks, had a swift comeback.

“If he thinks I am not serious, he will feel my gravity next year. I am in this race and those who doubt me will have their answer at the ballot box,” Mulyanyama said.

David Musiri, one of NUP’s hopefuls, was less concerned about Mulyanyama’s chances and more about his suitability for Parliament.

“In Parliament, we need people who can debate, articulate issues and shape policy. Mulyanyama doesn’t fit that profile. He should stick to being mayor and focus on improving social services in Makindye,” Musiri remarked bluntly.

Ali Nganda Mulyanyama.

Farouk Ntege, the younger brother to the late Kampala Mayor Nasser Sebaggala, recently threw a party to celebrate a local soccer team’s championship win. The event was supposed to be graced by NUP president Robert Kyagulanyi, but things did not go as planned.

“I had everything set — tents and food. But just as we were setting up, the Police showed up and shut it down. I even had prior approval, but somehow, they changed their mind. I had to take all the food back,” Ntege said.

David Musiri and Zahara Luyirika are also in full campaign mode. Last Saturday, Musiri hosted a graduation party, bringing together foot soldiers from NUP headquarters in Makerere- Kavule. In January, Luyirika held a grand event to mark her return from Mecca, with Kyagulanyi as the guest of honour.

The flurry of political activities, analysts say, underscores a hard truth — having the party ticket is not enough.

Candidates are realising that loyalty to NUP will not automatically guarantee them victory in 2026.

“Gone are the days when just carrying the party card would secure you a seat,” Ntege said.

“That’s why many of us are back in the trenches, directly engaging with voters. If you think winning the NUP ticket alone will get you elected, you’re in for a rude awakening,” he added.

Ntege pointed to the 2021 elections, arguing that incumbent Ssewanyana only survived because of the NUP wave.

But this time, Ntege insists, things will be different.

“Ssewanyana is no longer influential in Makindye West politics,” Ntege said.

“Since he got out of prison, he has been hiding. He is afraid to face the people. Ask him why he avoids them? Ntege "added.

Ssewanyana’s take

Unfazed by Ntege’s attacks, Ssewanyana dismissed the notion that he has abandoned his people.

“Voters in Makindye West didn’t elect me to serve them food or hand out money. They sent me to Parliament to advocate for their rights. Unlike others, I don’t make empty promises. That is why I remain popular — not just here, but across the country,” he said.

Taking a direct swipe at his rivals, Ssewanyana added: “Anyone who thinks they can buy their way into Parliament is daydreaming. My record speaks for itself.”

For Luyirika, Ntege’s argument holds some weight. She acknowledged that simply being in the party is not enough, but she believes she has a distinct advantage over her opponents.

“In the areas I’ve visited, many people know what I’m capable of,” she said.

“That said, I admit that not everyone has felt the impact of my work. The truth is, delivering social services is extremely difficult when you’re in the opposition. The Government deliberately frustrates our efforts to make us look incompetent,” she added.

Musiri, however, wasn’t buying any of it.

“Those are just excuses,” he scoffed.

“If Luyirika really had a track record, she wouldn’t need to explain herself. What has she done for Makindye West as KCCA speaker? Nothing. That’s why people shouldn’t feel too comfortable just because they expect to get the party ticket,” he said.

“Sewanyana has been a ghost in Parliament and the constituency,” political rival Musiri said.

“He shouldn’t waste his money trying again,” he added.

On the other side of the fence, NRM is not sitting back. Party strategists Keita and Kyagumba have been holding closed-door meetings every evening, mobilising their ground troops.

Issues in Makindye

Makindye West is a buzzing, densely populated urban area, with neighbourhoods like Kibuye, Kisugu, Lukuli, Nsambya, Salaama and Wabigalo. It is a lively mix of music, bars and businesses running day and night. But beneath the vibrancy, life is tough.

Many residents are trapped in economic hardship. Clean water? A luxury for some.

Good roads? Patchy at best. School fees? A struggle for many parents.

“In places like Kirombe and Wabigalo, people live in poor-quality housing. Some even build right on drainage channels, putting their lives at risk,” Luyirika, an aspirant, said. “If elected, I’ll make these issues my priority.”

With 2026 on the horizon, one thing is certain: Makindye West remains one of Kampala’s most unpredictable political battlefields. Will the NRM’s comeback plan work? Or will opposition loyalty run too deep? Time will tell.

NRM’s counter-attack

On her part, NRM’s Doreen Keita said the entire opposition is a lost cause. She believes Makindye West has suffered under the National Unity Platform (NUP) leadership and is urging voters to give the ruling party a chance.

“In the five years NUP has been in charge, it has proven to be inefficient and unreliable. Its leaders don’t have the people’s interests at heart,” Keita argued.

“I urge the residents of Makindye West to believe in NRM. Unlike NUP, which is controlled by a small clique making decisions for the majority, NRM listens to the people at every level,” she added.

Recognising that party loyalty alone won’t secure victory, aspirants are investing heavily in activities to boost their grassroots appeal.

“This time, NRM has a real shot at Makindye West,” Keita said.

“People are tired of the confusion and lack of service delivery under NUP. The honeymoon is over, and our mobilisers are making sure voters hear that message loud and clear,” she added.