The contest for Makindye West has intensified following the official nomination of incumbent MP Allan Ssewanyana and National Unity Platform (NUP) flagbearer Zahara Luyirika ahead of the 2026 general elections.
They will also face Doreen Keita Kagabi of the National Resistance Movement (NRM).
According to the Electoral Commission (EC), parliamentary nominations began on Wednesday, October 22, and will continue through Thursday, October 23, 2025.
Luyirika, the former Speaker of Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), pledged to deliver “effective and people-centred leadership” if elected as Makindye West’s next MP.
“Makindye West deserves leadership that not only speaks but acts for its people. I will champion human rights, transparency, and inclusive growth to ensure every resident of Makindye West is represented and empowered,” she said shortly after her nomination.
Her nomination followed a thorough NUP vetting process, which selected her as the party’s official candidate, replacing two-term incumbent Allan Ssewanyana.
Party officials described the decision as one made after “careful consideration of both her capacity and the needs of the constituency.”
Initially seeking the NUP ticket for the Kampala Woman MP seat, later awarded to incumbent Shamim Malende, Luyirika was reassigned to Makindye West following internal consultations.
Despite this shift, Allan Ssewanyana, who has represented Makindye West since 2016, returned to the race after his official nomination by the Electoral Commission.
“The decision to stand again was a response to the pleas of the people of Makindye West who saw that I still had things I needed to accomplish. Leadership is about service, not positions. The people have spoken, and as their servant, I have listened,” Ssewanyana said after his nomination.
He emphasized that his political journey remains focused on community empowerment, accountability, and social justice, asserting that his loyalty lies with the constituents rather than political affiliations.
Ssewanyana’s renewed bid follows internal tensions within NUP, with several aspirants, including David Musiri and Makindye Division Mayor Ali Mulyanyama, petitioning the party tribunal over the decision to award the flag to Luyirika.
Some argued that her sudden shift from the Kampala Woman MP race to Makindye West disadvantaged long-serving local party members.
