On Thursday, March 13, the Kawempe North constituency will head to the polls to elect a brand new Member of Parliament to exchange the late Muhammad Ssegirinya.
Political events, together with NRM, FDC, NUP, the Democratic Party, and unbiased candidates, are already gearing up for the election.
NRM has fielded Faridah Nambi, a daughter of NRM Vice Chairman Moses Kigongo. NUP has introduced Elias Nalukoola Luyimbazi, a former authorized advisor of the Democratic Party. FDC is being represented by musician Kalifah Aganaga, whereas Henry Kasakya Mubiru is the DP candidate.
1. The NUP-NRM Battle for Kampala and the Buganda Region
The National Resistance Movement (NRM) misplaced all parliamentary seats in Kampala and Wakiso District to NUP within the final election.
NRM is seeking to win this election to show it nonetheless holds political affect in Kampala and the Buganda area. This election will function a preview of what might occur in 2026, and an NRM victory might give them momentum to reclaim Buganda in subsequent 12 months’s basic elections.
On the opposite hand, the National Unity Platform (NUP) received by a landslide in Kawempe North within the earlier election, with Muhammad Ssegirinya securing over 40,000 votes.
NUP is decided to retain the seat. That is why celebration president Robert Kyagulanyi, a.ok.a Bobi Wine, has visited Kawempe twice because the campaigns started. He is ready to marketing campaign once more for Nalukoola on Monday, March 10.
Losing this place might help critics’ claims that NUP’s victory in Buganda in 2021 was merely a political wave. To counter this, NUP goes all out to defend the seat. A win would reaffirm the celebration’s power and pose a problem for NRM candidates in Buganda within the subsequent elections.
2. Alex Luwemba Luswa and the Sympathy Card
Alex Luwemba Luswa was a political assistant to the late Muhammad Ssegirinya. His marketing campaign largely revolves round sympathy and finishing Ssegirinya’s unfinished tasks.
However, his probabilities of successful Kawempe North are slim after he was denied the NUP ticket.
Critics additionally argue that he lacks expertise and may have contested for a decrease place. Nonetheless, a victory for him might preserve the sympathy card alive for future elections.
3. The Music Industry and Kalifah Aganaga
In current elections, a number of artists from the music trade have efficiently transitioned into politics.
Notable examples embody Geoffrey Lutaaya, Racheal Magoola, Dr. Hilderman, and Kayemba Solomon. Their success could have impressed Kalifah Aganaga to contest for a parliamentary seat.
If Kalifah Aganaga wins, it might encourage extra artists to hitch politics forward of subsequent 12 months’s basic elections. However, if he loses, it might decrease the expectations of different musicians who’ve expressed political ambitions.
The Kawempe North elections are set to happen this Thursday, March 13.
