Bushenyi–Ishaka, Sheema voters choose mayors in tight races

Voters in Bushenyi–Ishaka and Sheema municipalities are heading to the polls tomorrow, January 27, 2026, to elect mayors and LC4 councillors in tightly contested races, with incumbents and independent challengers engaged in close battles.

The race, includes incumbent mayor Richard Byaruhanga Nestor of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), Municipality speaker Evarist Mucunguzi, also Ward IV councillor running as an independent, and veteran politician Jackson Kamugasha (IND), who is making a political comeback after stepping aside in 2021.

Kamugasha previously served two consecutive terms as mayor of Bushenyi–Ishaka Municipality before retiring from elective politics ahead of the 2021 general elections. 

He instead mobilised support for his son, Derrick Kabuura, who went on to win the Bushenyi–Ishaka municipality parliamentary seat. With Kabuura opting not to seek re-election in 2026, Kamugasha has returned to reclaim the mayoral seat.

Byaruhanga secured the NRM flag after defeating Mucunguzi in party primaries last year. However, Mucunguzi rejected the results, citing alleged irregularities and malpractice, and subsequently declared his intention to contest as an independent.

Mucunguzi’s campaign has focused on improving service delivery, with emphasis on road infrastructure, markets and education facilities, targeting both low- and high-income earners in the municipality.

Byaruhanga, on the other hand, has anchored his campaign on road maintenance, good governance and accountability.

While Kamugasha brings experience to the race, his previous tenure was marked by governance challenges at the municipal level, including corruption-related investigations involving technocrats, which led to the interdiction of the chief finance officer Muhwezi Jackson and the resignation of the then municipal engineer, Nuwagira Deus.

Challenges facing the municipality

Bushenyi–Ishaka municipality continues to grapple with key urban challenges, including the absence of approved physical development plans and poor waste management systems, issues that have dominated the campaigns for every candidate.

Willis Bashasha, the former Bushenyi District chairperson and head of the NRM manifesto implementation, has urged voters in Bushenyi–Ishaka Municipality to turn up in large numbers and vote overwhelmingly for the ruling party’s flag bearers.

Bashasha called on residents to actively participate in the electoral process, saying high voter turnout Is key to sustaining development and improved service delivery in the municipality.

“Let us all turn out in big numbers and support our flag bearers for continued performance and development within our municipality,” Bashasha said, urging voters to focus on issues rather than what he described as “soap politics.”

Sheema Municipality race

Meanwhile, in neighbouring Sheema district, the mayoral contest has also attracted attention. Lukia Nakalisa, the Rutooma ward councillor and incumbent Sheema Municipality deputy mayor, is the NRM flag-bearer after defeating three male contenders in the party primaries.

Nakalisa polled 9,507 votes, defeating Bishweko Bansigaraho Moses, the Sheema Central Division LCIII chairperson, who garnered 8,285 votes. Tumwebaze Henry, the ward councillor, received  4,788 votes, while Sir Khoi Khoi trailed with 407 votes.

Despite losing the primaries, Bishweko has since declared his intention to contest as an independent, joining Bravo Mwongyera, also an independent candidate, setting up a three-way contest.

Sheema Municipality, which was created in 2017, is currently headed by Atucungura Abel Kahara, who has been in office since 2018 but did not seek re-election.

Residents cite persistent challenges, including dusty and poorly maintained roads, lack of road equipment and delayed opening of sanitary lanes , concerns now awaiting attention from the next municipal leadership.