Nalukoola Wins Kawempe North By-Election

The National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate, Erias Luyimbazi Nalukoola, has been declared the winner of the Kawempe North by-election. The announcement was made by Makabayi Henry, the returning officer for Kampala City, after Nalukoola secured 17,764 votes.

He defeated his closest rival, Faridah Nambi of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), who garnered 8,593 votes. Other candidates in the race included: Henry Kasacca (Democratic Party – DP) – 100 votes; Sadat Mukiibi (Aganaga) (Forum for Democratic Change – FDC) – 239 votes and Ismail Musiitwa (People’s Progressive Party – PPP) – 39 votes.

Several independent candidates: Hanifah Karadi – 381 votes; Muhamood Mutazindwa – 186 votes; Muhammed Lusswa Luwemba – 240 votes; Moses Nsereko – 32 votes and Henry Stanley Maitum, the  son of former President Milton Obote – 22 votes

“As Returning Officer for Kampala City Electoral District, I declare Luyimbazi Erias Nalukoola, who has obtained the largest number of votes, as the elected candidate for Kawempe Division North Constituency,” Makabayi announced.

The Kawempe North parliamentary seat fell vacant following the death of MP Muhammad Ssegirinya on January 9, 2025, at Lubaga Hospital, where he had been admitted with undisclosed health complications. His health had been a matter of concern for some time.

In October 2023, Ssegirinya was discharged from UMC Hospital in Amsterdam, Netherlands, where he had been receiving treatment. A month later, he was admitted to Nsambya Hospital in Uganda for lung-related complications. He later revealed that he had been battling skin cancer, hypertension, and lung infections. His condition worsened in January 2024, leading to his admission at Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya.

During his tenure in Parliament, Ssegirinya faced several challenges. In 2021, he and Makindye West MP Allan Ssewanyana were arrested on charges of murder, terrorism, and aiding and abetting terrorism in connection with a series of killings in the Greater Masaka region.

The two MPs, along with four other suspects, were accused of involvement in multiple murders, including Joseph Bwanika (Kisekka Village, Lwengo District), Francis Mugerwa Kiiza, Sulaiman Kakooza and Tadeo Kiyimba (Masaka City).

Prosecutors also alleged that they attempted to kill Ronald Ssebyoto and were involved in financing the attacks.

After 524 days in prison, Ssegirinya and Ssewanyana were granted bail on February 13, 2023, by Masaka High Court Judge Lawrence Tweyanze, each posting Shs 20 million in bail.

Ssegirinya’s passing marked the end of a tumultuous political journey, paving the way for the by-election that saw Erias Luyimbazi Nalukoola emerge victorious.