Four eye Basalirwa’s parliamentary seat

A well-known entrepreneur, Mr Egesa operates poultry and tree farms, as well as a timber yard within the municipality. 

READ: Asuman Basalirwa: From defiant Opposition activist to a lobbyist?

Bugiri Muslims endorse MP Basalirwa for 2026 re-election

He has vowed to deliver results where, he claims, the incumbent has not.  

“Mr Basalirwa has been very vocal in Parliament, but talk alone doesn’t bring services. As a farmer and forester, I will ensure more people engage in agriculture to improve household incomes,” he said. 

Mr Egesa also pledged to promote youth talent through sports and music to curb crime.  “Many young people turn to theft and robbery due to lack of productive engagement,” he said.  He further accused the incumbent of rarely consulting constituents, claiming that Mr Basalirwa pushes his personal opinions in Parliament rather than reflecting community views.

Other aspirants

Also in the race is Ms Phoebe Catherine Nabirye, a sugarcane farmer and businesswoman contesting on the National Resistance Movement (NRM) ticket.  

She promises to lobby for improved service delivery and create employment opportunities for girls in the United Arab Emirates. Ms Nabirye said she would ensure the government’s pledges to Bugiri are fulfilled, including attracting investors to set up factories.  

“The government has done its part. Our biggest challenge is unemployment. I will work to solve that,” she said. She pledged to establish a skilling centre in Bugiri targeting vulnerable groups, including orphans and children from poor families.  

“This centre will equip them with hands-on skills and income-generating activities,” she said.  Ms Nabirye also promised to advocate for affordable loans for market vendors and to lobby for construction of a modern Bugiri Central Market. Mr Alamanzan Mukuve, also of NUP , expressed confidence in his party’s national strength and hinted at seeking a ministerial position if NUP wins the presidency.  

His priority, he said, is to improve healthcare by constructing more health centres in strategic areas like Naluwerere. “Health is wealth,” he said, citing congestion at Bugiri Hospital. He also emphasised agriculture and regional trade. “Bugiri borders Kenya, and we must harness that by promoting food production and savings among farmers. People should grow food for both consumption and export,” he said.  

Mr Mukuve also pledged to improve education by paying examination fees for Primary Leaving Examinations, Uganda Certificate of Education and Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education candidates. 

Mr Hamzah Evuga, a journalist at Apex Promotions, is also considering another run on the NRM ticket after a previous attempt in 2021. His campaign will focus on human rights advocacy, particularly for journalists and other marginalised groups. “As a journalist, I know the importance of bridging the gap between media and security agencies. I will promote harmony for national peace,” he said.  

Mr Evuga promised monthly donations of soap, sugar, and salt to elderly residents. While he admitted this wasn’t the typical role of an MP, he argued it was a moral duty. He also proposed expanding Bugiri Municipality to include neighbouring Kapyanga Sub-county to boost revenue, service delivery, and infrastructure development, including new roads to facilitate economic growth.

Religious endorsement Meanwhile, on Eid al-Adha, Muslims at Nuhu Mosque in Butambula Zone endorsed Mr Basalirwa as their preferred candidate for the 2026 race. Sheikh Abubakari Ntende praised the MP for championing moral values by tabling the Anti-Homosexuality Bill and the Anti-Counterfeit Bill, as well as supporting the construction of mosques. 

“Mr Basalirwa has fulfilled his promises. As Muslims, we must rally behind him. He is among the hardest-working MPs in Uganda,” Sheikh Ntende said. Sheikh Jamiru Mwanira, the imam of Masjid Madina in Kiwalazi Zone, also backed the incumbent, noting his collaborative approach with MPs across political lines.

“Though we are in the NRM, we support him for the good he has done. He is a leader we can’t forget,” Sheikh Mwanira said.

Mr Basalirwa told Daily Monitor he is ready for the contest. “I welcome the competition. The people of Bugiri will decide. I know I’ve represented them and the country well,” he said. He pointed to key achievements, including pushing for the upgrade of Bugiri Hospital into a regional referral facility. 

“It’s located along the Jinja–Tororo highway and often handles more patients than many referral hospitals. We need urgent intervention,” he said. He also cited successful lobbying for government programmes despite being in the Opposition. 

“My approach has been non-partisan. That’s how I’ve managed to deliver services,” he said. Among his accomplishments, Mr Basalirwa listed the construction of more than 30 mosques and churches, the drilling of boreholes, and financial support to youth, women, and market vendors. “I’ve supported businesses and education by offering school fees assistance and free legal services,” he added. 

He pledged continued support to salon operators, vendors, youth, and women to improve household incomes. “I intend to do even more for the people of Bugiri,” he said. Mr Basalirwa recently tabled both the Anti-Homosexuality and Anti-Counterfeit Bills, which have since been signed into law. 

About incumbent

Mr Asuman Basalirwa is a lawyer and politician who has served as Bugiri Municipality MP since 2018. He is the deputy chairperson of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee and has led JEEMA since 2010. He also chairs the Uganda Muslim Parliamentary Association and the Inter-Party Organisation on Dialogue. 

A partner at Sewankambo & Co. Advocates, he holds a Diploma in Legal Practice from the Law Development Centre (2004), a Certificate in International Humanitarian Law from Pretoria University (2008), and a Master of Laws from Makerere University (2015).