Mukono District National Resistance Movement (NRM) chairperson Haruna Semakula has conceded the party’s defeat in the district, attributing the loss to overconfidence and failure by candidates to actively campaign.
Semakula said many NRM candidates wrongly assumed they would win without putting in the necessary effort, despite Mukono’s long-standing reputation as an opposition stronghold.
“Many assumed victory would be handed to them on a silver platter without putting in the necessary work. Most of our candidates did not even campaign, expecting to be declared winners,” Semakula said.
He warned the newly elected National Unity Platform (NUP) Members of Parliament against opposing government programmes in the district, saying residents expect development to continue regardless of political affiliation.
“I caution the new MPs not to oppose or obstruct government programmes in the district. Mukono residents expect development, and any attempts to block progress will not be tolerated,” he said.
Semakula’s remarks come months after he assured President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni at a rally held at Nagalama Playground last year that the NRM would defeat the opposition in Mukono District and secure all parliamentary seats, including that of long-serving Mukono Municipality MP Betty Nambooze.
He said such assurances may have contributed to a false sense of guaranteed victory among NRM candidates.
The situation reportedly culminated last week when several NRM candidates, led by former State Minister for Water Ronald Kibuule, stormed the Mukono tally centre demanding to be declared winners despite failing to secure victories in any constituency.
Other NRM candidates present at the tally centre during the late-night incident included Daisy Sarah Nabatanzi Ssonko, Margaret Nakavubu Bakubi and Robert Kafeero Ssekitoleko.
The National Unity Platform retained its dominance in Mukono District after sweeping all elective seats, including Mukono Municipality, Mukono North, Mukono South, Nakifuma County and the District Woman MP seat.
Electoral Commission Returning Officer Emily Amongin declared Betty Nambooze winner of Mukono Municipality with 22,691 votes.
She defeated NRM’s Daisy Sarah Nabatanzi Ssonko, who polled 5,753 votes, DP’s George Fred Kajimu with 4,023 votes, Mukono Woman MP Harnifah Nabukeera with 4,620 votes, and Mukono LC5 chairperson Peter Bakaluba Mukasa, who received 2,580 votes.
In Mukono North Constituency, NUP’s Abdallah Kiwanuka won with 15,017 votes, defeating former minister Ronald Kibuule, who garnered 11,176 votes.
Former Makerere University Guild president Robert Maseruka, also of NUP, won Mukono South Constituency with 19,621 votes, beating incumbent Fred Kayondo of the Democratic Party, who polled 11,895 votes.
In Nakifuma County, NUP’s Sulaiman Kiwanuka secured victory with 32,806 votes, defeating incumbent Fred Ssimbwa of the Democratic Front, who polled 954 votes, and NRM’s Robert Kafeero Ssekitoleko, who received 16,024 votes.
NUP’s Sheila Amanio retained the Mukono District Woman MP seat after securing 97,421 votes against NRM’s Margaret Nakavubu Bakubi, who polled 50,587 votes.
Mukono District comprises four constituencies, 610 villages, 18 sub-counties, 97 parishes and approximately 939 polling stations, with about 440,000 registered voters.
