Ronald Balimwezo Wins Kampala Lord Mayor, Ending Lukwago’s 15-Year Tenure

Ronald Balimwezo Nsubuga of the National Unity Platform (NUP) has been declared the new Lord Mayor of Kampala, marking a significant political shift in Uganda’s capital following the 2026 general elections.

The Kampala City Returning Officer, Jennifer Kyobutungi, announced Balimwezo as the duly elected Lord Mayor after he secured 141,220 votes, easily outpacing seven other candidates in one of the most closely watched local contests of the election cycle.

Balimwezo’s victory ends the 15-year reign of veteran politician Erias Lukwago, who had served as Lord Mayor since 2011. Lukwago, running on the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) ticket, finished third with 41,915 votes, while the National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate, Moses Kizito Nsubuga, came in second with 43,615 votes.

Other candidates, including Beatrice Mao of the Democratic Party, garnered far fewer votes.

Speaking shortly after his declaration, Balimwezo thanked Kampala voters and pledged leadership focused on service and unity. “I thank the people of Kampala for the confidence they have placed in me, and I thank my party, the NUP, for standing with me to make this possible,” he said.

Balimwezo also recognised Lukwago’s long service to the city. “I will knock on your doors because you are experienced and you have done a lot for this city. I thank you for the great service you have offered to Kampala,” he added, signalling a tone of cooperation as he prepares to take office.

The results underline NUP’s continued strength in urban local government politics, even as national contests have remained competitive and sometimes contentious. Balimwezo’s win is being celebrated among party supporters as a new chapter for Kampala’s governance and civic leadership.

Counting and official verification were completed across the city’s polling stations before the declaration at Makerere University Business School’s tally centre, where the city’s results were finalised.