KAMPALA — Forum for Democratic Change’s Erias Lukwago has been reelected Lord Mayor of Kampala for a third consecutive term in office.
The ruling National Resistance Movement meanwhile, took a drubbing in a vote marked by the record-low turnout.
Lukwago scored 65% of the votes (194,592) — roundly defeating his eleven (11) rivals including the National Unity Platform’s Nabilah Naggayi (60,082) and NRM’s Daniel Kazibwe (23,388) respectively.
Others were Joseph Mayanja (IND) who scored 12,212, Charles Senkubuge (DP) managed 2,355 while
Kawooya Innocent (IND) got 762 votes.
Micheal Evans Mugabi got 522, Eddie Kibalama managed 490, Yakubu Musaazi of the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) got 478, Isaac Sendagire got 386 while Ben Lule managed 325 votes.
“What a historic moment! Praise be to the Almighty. Thank you Kampala! The Statement is unequivocally loud and clear; OMULOODI WAALI. Our love is etched in stone. Asante sana. Mungu awabarik,” Lukwago said on Wednesday night.
Of his closet rivals have alleged fraud— accusing Lukwago of rigging.
“There is a specific target towards National Unity Platform to fail my ambitions. I look at the confidence Lukwago’s camp has around the police,” Nabilah said.
She added: “There is malpractice already. I have just heard at Christ the King civic centre the army has cordoned off the area, we are not saying that it is free and fair, we will assess the day’s election as it unfolds and ends,” she said.
This means Lukwago scored a decisive victory in his bid to secure a third five-year term in charge of Uganda’s biggest city.
The lord mayor has positioned himself as one of the most vocal critics of President Yoweri Museveni, who has received strong disapproval ratings from voters in the central region.
The Wednesday elections saw a record-low turnout, with only a few voters casting ballots.
People voted wearing face masks, maintained social distancing while in line, and majority carried their own pens to tick their favorite candidates.
