KAMPALA – As the race for the Kampala Lord Mayor seat heats up, behind-the-scenes maneuvers within the National Unity Platform (NUP) are creating internal friction, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Trusted sources indicate that the party has assured its mayoral candidate, Eng. Balimwezo, of a lucrative fallback plan should he lose the election. Reportedly, he has been promised a position within the party’s mobilization department, a role that would come with a monthly salary of Shs25 million and other allowances.
However, this alleged agreement has reportedly unsettled the current party Chief of Mobilization, Habib Buwembo. Sources suggest Buwembo feels his position is being threatened by the backroom deal made to secure Balimwezo’s candidacy in the high-stakes race.
The political landscape Eng. Balimwezo faces is acknowledged to be daunting. He is challenging a strong incumbent, Erias Lukwago, who is believed to hold significant sympathy votes, particularly from city hawkers affected by the recent Nakivubo Channel redevelopment project.
Despite the uphill battle, incumbent Lukwago is also said to be viewing Balimwezo’s candidacy with concern. This apprehension follows the defection of Lukwago’s former Personal Assistant, Deo Mbabazi, to Balimwezo’s campaign team. Mbabazi, with his intimate knowledge of Lukwago’s political machinery, has reportedly begun dismantling the Lord Mayor’s grassroots structures, posing a serious threat to his re-election bid.
The developments point to a fiercely contested battle, with internal party assurances and strategic defections shaping the dynamics of the #UgDecides2026 mayoral race.
