✍️By Bakinyumya Douglas Paapa Ov Uganda
(Political TV Producer & Host – @BDouglasPaapa)
11th /September /2025
Unity Cracks in the Opposition
The much-publicized “United Forces of Change” are crumbling before Uganda’s eyes. What was once marketed as a united opposition front ahead of the 2026 elections has now split into open confrontation.
In a dramatic turn, Kampala’s long-serving Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago has been declared the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) flagbearer, while the National Unity Platform (NUP) has endorsed Ronald Balimwezo Nsubuga for the same seat. The dream of “one candidate per position” lies in ruins — replaced by accusations of betrayal, ego, and political backstabbing.
Lukwago: A Fourth Bite at the Apple
Lukwago, who first took office in 2011, is now seeking a fourth consecutive term at City Hall. For more than a decade, he has styled himself as Kampala’s defender, positioning himself as a thorn in the side of the ruling establishment.
Yet critics say his candidacy exposes double standards.
“He has overstayed in office! What has he really delivered for Kampala? And where are the new leaders he promised to mentor?” charged one political analyst.
While his loyalists insist he remains Kampala’s strongest voice against state excesses, his refusal to step aside has ignited tensions within opposition circles.
Balimwezo: NUP’s Fresh Face for City Hall
On the opposing front is Ronald Balimwezo, the outgoing Nakawa East MP and a former Nakawa Division Mayor. Known for his outspoken views on governance and service delivery, Balimwezo has quickly risen in NUP ranks as a trusted lieutenant of party leader Robert Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine).
Having declared that he will not return to Parliament, Balimwezo has thrown his full weight into the mayoral race. He has already played a leading role in NUP’s “Protest Vote 2026” fundraising drive, projecting himself as both a mobilizer and reformist.
For NUP, Balimwezo represents generational change and the chance to reclaim Kampala’s most symbolic political office.
More Players Crowd the Field
The opposition split does not end with NUP and PFF. Other parties have also staked their claims:
- Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has fronted Ibrahim Kasozi, the former Makindye MP.
- Democratic Party (DP) has nominated Beatrice Mao, wife of DP President Norbert Mao.
- The NRM has entered the fray with Moses Kizito Nsubuga, hoping to capitalize on the opposition’s chaos.
Instead of uniting, the opposition is fracturing further — handing the ruling party a much-needed opening.
NRM Watching With a Smile
For over 20 years, the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) has struggled to capture Kampala, repeatedly losing the mayoral seat to opposition figures. Yet this cycle may be different.
With the opposition tearing itself apart, the NRM quietly projects itself as the only party offering consistency, patriotism, and Pan-African socio-economic transformation. Political observers warn that this division could be the NRM’s biggest opportunity to breach Kampala’s opposition stronghold.
The Bigger Picture: A Self-Inflicted Wound
The Kampala mayoral race has now become more than a fight for City Hall. It is a litmus test for the opposition’s ability to manage egos, ambitions, and internal contradictions.
Lukwago’s insistence on running again, Balimwezo’s ambitious candidacy, and the entry of multiple other contenders have transformed the race into an opposition civil war.
And the question remains:
If opposition forces cannot unite around a single mayoral candidate, how can they ever unite to challenge for the presidency or govern the entire country?
In Conclusion
What was supposed to be the clearest display of opposition unity has turned into a public spectacle of disunity. Kampala voters now face a crowded field in 2026, while the NRM watches from the sidelines, poised to exploit the cracks.
In the end, the Kampala mayoral contest is no longer just about who becomes Lord Mayor. It is about whether Uganda’s opposition still has the discipline, maturity, and vision to offer a credible alternative to the ruling establishment.
✍️ By Bakinyumya Douglas Paapa Ov Uganda
(Political TV Producer & Host – @BDouglasPaapa
