National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate Allan Bulamu has been declared the winner of the Kira Municipality mayoral race, defeating six other contenders in a closely watched contest.
Bulamu was announced winner on Wednesday by Wakiso District Returning Officer Tolbert Musinguzi after securing the majority of votes cast.
He polled 17,170 votes to beat his closest rival, National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate Norman Semwanga Kaboggoza, who garnered 13,475 votes.
Incumbent mayor Julius Mutebi of the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) finished third with 10,715 votes. Other candidates trailed far behind: Elly Bakojja of the Democratic Party obtained 463 votes, Jowet Matsiko (Independent) 362, Joseph Walusimbi (Independent) 351, and Moses Ategeka (Independent) 310.
However, Kaboggoza disputed the declared results, alleging vote rigging. Speaking to the Daily Monitor, the NUP candidate claimed he had won by a margin of 12,000 votes and expressed surprise that Bulamu was announced the victor.
Bulamu dismissed the allegations, accusing opponents of attempting to steal Declaration of Results forms from several polling stations.
He urged anyone dissatisfied with the outcome to seek redress through the courts.
Mutebi’s defeat adds to a string of setbacks for the PFF in Kira Municipality, following the loss of party member Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda in the January 15 parliamentary election.
Mutebi had crossed from the NUP to the PFF last year, a move that drew political attention in the municipality and made the mayoral contest particularly competitive.