Mathew Mutyaba has formally withdrawn from the 2026 presidential race and redirected his ambitions toward the local political stage.
Mutyaba, who had earlier declared his intention to contest in the upcoming presidential elections, is now vying for the position of Mayor of Mukono Municipality.
He was initially seen at the Electoral Commission (EC) headquarters in Kampala picking nomination papers for the presidency.
However, just days later, he appeared at the EC offices in Mukono with an assistant, reviewing documents related to local government elections.
When approached by Nile Post about the sudden change in his political trajectory, Mutyaba declined to give specific reasons for withdrawing from the presidential contest, stating only that he had “some clarifications” to make with the Electoral Commission.
Shortly thereafter, Mutyaba entered the nomination room at the Mukono EC office and was officially declared a candidate for the mayoral seat by returning officer Mark Muganza.
While remaining tight-lipped about his motivations, Mutyaba emphasized a renewed focus on grassroots leadership, noting that many government sectors underperform due to poor local governance.
“Mukono needs a mayor who will not sleep in the office, but one who goes out to meet the people and understand their real problems,” he said.
Mutyaba’s entry into the Mukono mayoral race coincides with another strategic shift by Henry Ssenyonyo.
Ssenyonyo, who had initially declared his bid for Member of Parliament for Mukono Municipality, has opted to run for mayor instead, citing financial constraints as a major factor.
“Challenging the incumbent requires resources I do not have. I’ve chosen to focus my energy where I can make a difference,” Ssenyonyo explained.
He added that competing against financially strong counterparts such as Betty Nambooze, Daisy Sonko, and Rev Peter Bakaluba Mukasa for the MP seat would be unrealistic, emphasizing that a strong message alone is insufficient to win.
The Mukono Municipality mayoral race has now attracted a total of five candidates, intensifying what is expected to be a highly competitive election.
The confirmed candidates are: Peter Kabanda, Erisa Nkoyoyo, Mikdad Mulimira, Mathew Mutyaba, and Henry Ssenyonyo.