The National Resistance Movement (NRM) is celebrating what it describes as a major political comeback in Wakiso District following the recent local government elections, claiming to have secured three of the district’s nine parliamentary seats and the influential District Chairperson position.
The results mark a significant shift in a district that, during the 2021 general elections, overwhelmingly backed the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP), leaving the NRM without parliamentary representation at district level.
According to NRM officials, the party’s improved performance stems from internal reorganisation, lessons drawn from past defeats and intensified grassroots mobilisation.
Party supporters also point to recent presidential visits and what they describe as divisions within the opposition as factors that reshaped the political landscape.
In 2021, NUP, riding on the momentum of the People Power movement, swept all nine parliamentary seats in Wakiso and secured 100 out of 103 district council positions.
The Democratic Party retained the District Chairperson seat through Matia Lwanga Bwanika and won two council seats, while the Forum for Democratic Change secured one council slot.
The latest results, however, suggest a partial reversal of that dominance. Beyond reclaiming three parliamentary seats, the NRM has also won the District Chairperson position and a majority of council seats, consolidating its grip on local governance structures.
Mayanja Moses, the newly elected Member of Parliament for Busiro North and NRM Chairperson for Wakiso, attributed the party’s resurgence to renewed unity and strategic coordination.
“Our victory in Wakiso is a testament to our improved cohesion and a direct result of our concerted efforts as a party,” Mayanja said.
NRM supporter Nayeebare Faibe argued that voters responded positively to the government’s development agenda and interventions at the grassroots level, particularly on sensitive issues such as land evictions.
“The government has been actively engaged in addressing the concerns of the common person, and this has resonated deeply with the voters,” Faibe said, adding that the party’s victories reflected the will of the electorate.
“We have not witnessed such a transparent and fair election in a long time.”
However, the opposition has rejected the results, alleging widespread irregularities and security interference.
Joseph Matovu, the Mayor of Nansana and a former NUP contender, described the elections as chaotic and deeply flawed.
“We witnessed unprecedented chaos during the elections. There were numerous instances where NRM supporters were allegedly assisted by security personnel to cast votes, and we have substantial evidence to support these claims,” Matovu said. He further questioned the credibility of the Electoral Commission’s tallying and declaration process.
Zambaali Blasio Mukasa, the NUP coordinator and newly elected Member of Parliament for Nansana Municipality, also alleged violence and manipulation, claiming the electoral process in Wakiso had been compromised.
“The violence and irregularities we saw in Wakiso were unprecedented. The system is designed to steal victories from us,” Zambaali said.
He further alleged that Wakiso Electoral Commission Chairperson Tolbert Musinguzi was sidelined during the results announcement, a claim that has not been independently verified.
The Electoral Commission had not publicly responded to the allegations by press time.
With the District Chairperson seat and a majority of council positions now under NRM control, the ruling party appears to have strengthened its administrative foothold in one of the country’s most politically contested districts.
Whether the opposition will formally challenge the results in court remains to be seen.
