2026 elections: Why 21 faces are fighting for the soul of Katikamu South

While Katikamu South has for the past four consecutive election cycles presented the biggest number of candidates ranging between six and eight candidates for the legislative seat, the growing number of contenders has stunned voters in the area.

Mr David Lule Mazanganda, a former two- time parliamentary contender in Katikamu South believes the high number of political aspirants could be a result of political excitement and possible lack of an elder’s political forum for Luweero District.

“I have been attending the different community functions within Katikamu South constituency and the surprising news is the number of people that stand up to show interest in the parliamentary seat. We lack the opinion leaders to give direction on what our people should do when it comes to electing leaders, everyone wants to become a leader which is erroneous,” he says.

Muzzanganda , currently serving Kabaka’s Deputy chief in Bulemezi County says if the area had an elder’s forum, it could advise and possibly deliberate on the salient issues affecting the district and the kind of leaders to elect in key positions .

Mr Hezekiah Ssenono, a retired primary school teacher and resident of Makulubita Sub County in Luweero District is surprised that Luweero is like ‘a lost sheep’.

“For more than 10-years now, since the collapse of an earlier initiative to have the elder’s forum for the people of the Luweero to deliberate on the many pending issues; the people of Luweero are failing to come together for a common cause. It is unfortunate that the journey hatched by the late Prof. Edward Khidu Makubuya for the Elders Forum did not see the light of the day,” he says.

Leadership vacuum?

But Mr Ssenono partly blames the big number of people showing interest in the parliamentary seat on a vacuum created by the current Luweero leadership.

“The current crop of political leaders in Luweero District are on their own. They act independently and do not consult the opinion leaders and the elders. I may not blame the current member of Parliament, Mr Hassan Kirumira, because he is simply a victim of a process that failed to have a strong elder’s forum and political mentorship,” he adds.

But Ms Hadijah Nakawunde, a local human rights activist and politician based at Bombo Town Council is worried that Luweero may fail to realise its lost past glory as a result of divisionism and lack of a common forum that can give a sense of political direction on matters affecting the district.

“For Katikamu South Constituency, everybody wants to be a leader. Our elders have resigned and left the political playing field to inexperienced people that are looking for jobs. The few opinion leaders act selfishly without minding about the future of our district,” she says.

The incumbent legislator (Hassan Kirumira) however dismisses the notion that he could be responsible for the many political hopefuls eying his seat.

“I think every Ugandan has a right to actively participate in politics among other activities that contribute to the welfare of their respective communities. I have effectively represented my constituency and believe that the people of Katikamu South will vote me back to Parliament in January next year,” he explains.

Mr Kirumira is quick to point out some of the many achievements during his tenure as area MP on top of effective Parliament representation is engaging in the different community development activities.

“It is true that some of the projects that I have already championed in Katikamu South Constituency are outside the mandate of legislation roles but help to improve service delivery. These include, lobbying for road infrastructure improvement through the district local government, electricity, clean water among other service delivery programmes,” he says.

Bounce back

Mr Abubaker Kalume, through his Kalume Foundation will be contesting for the second time after contesting for the same seat as an independent candidate in the 2021 General Election. He says unlike many of the people vying for the same seat out of excitement, he is coming for service delivery and effective representation of the people of Katikamu South Constituency.

“We have a political vacuum that must be effectively resolved. I don’t believe in the notion that a leader must not get involved in development mobilisation of the people they represent. Mine will be different if elected ,” he says.

Surprisingly, NUP has the biggest number of contenders that have so far expressed interest in unseating their own.

One of the intending aspirants who has put up campaign posters, Mr Zakayo Kiviri is a retired police officer who also contested for the same seat 15-years ago. Kiviri says Parliament should be a place for tested individuals willing to sacrifice time, experience and the wealth of knowledge for their respective areas.

War epicenter

Luweero Triangle was the epicenter of the five-year guerrilla war that ushered Mr Museveni’ s government to power in 1986.

However, 39 years later, residents in the area have remained poor with some failing to enroll their children in relatively good school despite being largely loyal to Mr Museveni for a long time and generously contributing to his vote pool and electing ruling party representatives at various levels.

This explains why the Opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) swept most of the elective positions in the district During the 2021 general elections. 

Mr Hassan Kirumira , who was fresh from Kyeyo (working abroad) in South Africa and still new in area politics, defeated seven candidates after garnering 21,197 votes. 

In the second position was Alfred Muwanga (Ind) who got 9,798 votes, Patricia Magara (NRM) polled 8,132 votes, Abubaker Kalume (Ind) 6528 votes, Edward Ssembatya (Ind) 1,659 votes, Allan Kabaale (Ind) 666 votes, George Ssemakula (Democratic Party) 554 votes and Alex Nathan Ssenabulya (Ind) 297 votes.

The 20 contenders for the Katikamu South Seat
More than 20 political aspirants are already engaged in early campaigns for the Katikamu South parliamentary seat. Some of the notable contenders include:

NRM aspirants
Abubaker Kalume (NRM)
Patricia Magara (NRM)
NRM-leaning aspirants 
Nsubuga Samadu
Marvin Mugisha
Christopher Walakira Balitomera
NUP-Leaning aspirants 
Kintu Michael
Zakayo Nsubuga Kiviri
Alex Muyabu
Hamza Mutebi
Sulait Nsubuga
Democratic Party (DP) Candidate
George Ssemakula
Independent aspirants
Alfred Muwanga
Milly Natembo
Erick Musoke