Opposition upstages NRM in Jinja division mayoral races
Abdulhafidh Nagaya won the hotly contested Jinja city mayoral race during the January 22, 2026, polls with 17,266 votes against Mubarak Kirunda of the National Unity Platform (NUP), who got 15,783.
Husein Muyonjo (R) the MP-elect for Jinja northern division flanked by Mubarak Kirunda who lost the Jinja city mayoral race as Wabika readies to be declared mayor-elect of northern division. (Photo by Jackie Nambogga)
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Despite the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) scooping the Jinja city mayoral seat, the Opposition has revenged by taking the two division top offices.
Abdulhafidh Nagaya won the hotly contested Jinja city mayoral race during the January 22, 2026, polls with 17,266 votes against Mubarak Kirunda of the National Unity Platform (NUP), who got 15,783.
However, NUP has defeated NRM for the southern and northern division mayoral seats with Simon Kasirye and Ayub Wabika, respectively, as mayor-elect.
Ayub Wabika (R) with one of his agents as they arranged the declaration forms on arrival at the tally centre on Wednesday night. (Photo by Jackie Nambogga)
Wabika trounced 10 contenders to retain his seat after garnering 10,877 votes, followed by NRM’s Abdallah Iddi Samanya and Jolly Lukooya of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), who polled 8,242 and 1,099 votes, respectively.
Other flag bearers were Abdurazake Kaziba Kisanga (JEEMA) and Mohammed Kitagendha (PFF), who got 175 and 260 votes, accordingly.
The rest, all independents, were Muzafaru Bulera Zamba, Mohamed Gala, Allan Kirya, Fredrick Mukisa and Asuman Nkwanga, who lost in the FDC primaries.
Previously, Wabika had contested on the FDC card before he crossed to NUP, which handed him a flag.
On the other hand, Kasirye defeated seven others in the race after scoring 5,036 votes, followed by Rogers Anjoga Rajabo (ind) and NRM’s Faruwa Kitakule with 3,819 and 3,608 votes, respectively.
Meanwhile, Muhammed Musisi Kibugujju (ind), Abu-Baker Maganda Timuntu (FDC), Umar Mutengu (PFF), Fred Mwase (EPU) and Nassan Nzogi (ind) polled 1,290, 823, 237, 190 and 66, respectively.
Simon Kasirye, the NUP flag bearer who won the Southern division mayoral race after collapsing in the tally centre following the changes on the DR form by NRM team. (Photo by Jackie Nambogga)
A former Conservative Party member in Jinja alone, Kasirye also defected last year to NUP, which entrusted him with its flag.
He is a former vice-chairperson at the then Jinja central division council under Jinja municipality, where he served as a councillor representing central east parish.
After serving for two terms, he quit active politics for his business until he returned last year.