Independents dominated the district LC5 seats and the mayoral race in Bunyoro sub-region, with Edward Isingoma, an independent candidate, snatching Hoima City from NRM’s Brian Kaboyo. Out of nine local government chairperson seats in the region, independents won five, while the ruling NRM secured four in tightly contested races.
Observers and voters attributed the outcome to the NRM’s weak candidates, some of whom allegedly exploited party loopholes to secure nomination flags, prompting voters to protest by backing independents.
In detail:
In Hoima City, independent candidate Edward Isingoma defeated NRM’s Brian Kaboyo, polling 11,709 votes against Kaboyo’s 9,252 votes.
In Hoima District, independent Uthuman Mugisha won with 25,347 votes, beating NRM’s district chairman Vincent Muhumuza Savana, who garnered 19,451 votes.
In Buliisa, independent Wandera Atuhairwe won with 15,416 votes, surpassing incumbent NRM candidate Fred Lukumu, who received 12,637 votes.
In Masindi, independent Patrick Wobusobozi secured 27,331 votes, defeating NRM’s Godfrey Byarugaba, who had 17,686 votes.
In Kagadi, independent Elgad Tumusime triumphed with 69,002 votes, beating incumbent NRM chairman Yosiya Ndibwami, who received 40,526 votes.
NRM retained only a few districts: Kakumiro, where incumbent Joseph Ssentayi held his chairmanship despite a strong challenge from independent Ssemanda Apuuli; Kibaale, where Godfrey Kasanga Muwonge retained his seat; and Kikuube, with Peter Banura winning under the NRM ticket.
In addition, Nelson Osaga, who secured the NRM nomination, defeated incumbent Edith Aliguma, who had returned as an independent candidate.
Political analysts in Bunyoro, Albert Kwizera and Christopher Kawamala, attributed the trend to voters prioritizing individual merit over party affiliation, with some suggesting that money played a bigger role than ideology.
“The challenge is that most people who got NRM cards were not genuine, and voters now opted to vote for personalities rather than parties. Some were also swayed by money; the person who gave the most won,” Kwizera said.
Kwizera expressed concern that this type of voting, driven more by excitement than policy, could affect service delivery.
“For instance, in Kagadi, the incumbent LC5 Ndibwami Yosiya had delivered, but he has been defeated by a young man. In Kiryandongo, unless voters reconsider, they may regret it—but it is just a matter of time,” he noted.
Kawamala advised the newly elected independents to quickly sign memoranda of understanding with the ruling party to ensure alignment with the NRM manifesto.
“Most of those who won as independents are NRM at heart. The best they can do is sign an MOU with the ruling party so that they move on the same page. This will make their work easier,” he said.