Incarcerated NUP spokesperson Mufumbiro Nominated in Absentia

The National Unity Platform (NUP) deputy spokesperson, Alex Waiswa Mufumbiro, has been nominated in absentia to contest for the Nakawa East Parliamentary seat, in what is shaping up to be one of Kampala’s most closely watched political battles.

Mufumbiro, a fiery opposition voice and key force in the NUP hierarchy, is currently on remand in Luzira Prison alongside several party members following their arrest over an alleged illegal military-style parade at the party headquarters in Makerere-Kavule.

His nomination papers were presented by Ronald Balimwezo, the incumbent Nakawa East MP, who is not seeking re-election for Parliament but has instead set his sights on the Kampala Lord Mayor’s seat.

The nomination sets up a high-stakes political duel between Mufumbiro and Fred Ruhindi, the seasoned National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate and former Attorney General. Ruhindi held the Nakawa East seat for a decade, from 2006 to 2016, before losing to the Forum for Democratic Change’s (FDC) Michael Kabaziguruka. He made a comeback attempt in 2021, again on the NRM ticket, but was defeated by Balimwezo, who then rode the NUP wave that swept through Kampala.

This year’s contest now pits the old guard against the new opposition force, with Mufumbiro’s nomination injecting fresh energy and tension into the race. Despite his incarceration, NUP supporters have rallied around his candidacy, describing it as “a symbol of resistance and courage in the face of political repression.”

So far, five candidates have been cleared by the Electoral Commission to contest for the Nakawa East seat. They include Alex Waiswa Mufumbiro (NUP), Fred Ruhindi (NRM), Moses Mugisha Okwera (FDC), and independents Charles Keeno, Winfred Nakandi, and Joy Kirabo.

Meanwhile, in Makindye East, popular media personality Robert Ssekidde, better known as Tuff B, has also been nominated as an independent candidate. He will face off against Ali Nganda Mulyanyama, the NUP flag bearer and incumbent mayor of Makindye Division, among others.