Ronald Balimwezo Nsubuga of the National Unity Platform (NUP) has been declared the new Lord Mayor of Kampala, ending the 15-year tenure of veteran politician Erias Lukwago in a decisive win in the 2026 local government elections.
The Kampala City Returning Officer, Jennifer Kyobutungi, officially announced Balimwezo as the winner after he polled 141,220 votes, the highest among the eight candidates contesting the seat.
Balimwezo’s closest rivals — Moses Kizito Nsubuga of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) and Erias Lukwago of the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) — finished well behind him with 43,615 and 41,915 votes respectively. Other contenders, including Beatrice Mao of the Democratic Party, trailed with significantly fewer votes.
In his first comments after being declared the winner, Balimwezo emphasised unity and collaboration. “I will knock on your doors because you are experienced and you have done a lot for this city,” he said, referring to Lukwago, whom he described as a “great pillar” in Kampala politics.
The result is being seen as a major political shift in Kampala, where opposition voters have opted for new leadership under the NUP banner, signalling a generational change at City Hall.
Balimwezo’s victory follows intense campaigning across Kampala’s divisions and comes amid broader debates about turnout and political engagement in local elections across Uganda.
The Kampala Lord Mayor race was one of the most closely watched contests of the 2026 election cycle, and Balimwezo’s win reflects his strong support base in the capital’s urban electorate.
