The National Unity Platform (NUP) council candidate, John Mary Sebuwuufu, has been elected Speaker of the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) Council after defeating Ali Kalule of the National Resistance Movement (NRM)in a tightly contested race at City Hall.
Sebuwuufu secured 18 votes against Kalule’s 16 in an election conducted through a secret ballot involving all eligible councillors. The exercise, which began at 1:25 pm, drew all councillors except NRM’s Bagonza Amon, who initially failed to show up.
After the first 34 councillors had cast their ballots, presiding officer Justice Ritah Naumbe paused the process for three minutes to allow Bagonza to arrive and vote. The wait later stretched to about 10 minutes before he eventually appeared and participated in the exercise. One invalid vote was recorded after a councillor mistakenly wrote names for both Speaker and Deputy Speaker, despite the ballot being restricted to the Speaker’s race only.
Sebuwuufu’s candidature was proposed by Godfrey Luyombya and seconded by James Mubiru.In his address to councillors before the vote, Sebuwuufu said KCCA required a leader with competence, institutional knowledge, and leadership experience to navigate what he described as a “very complex institution.”
He highlighted his experience serving on his party’s election management committee and as a member of the previous council, arguing that the authority needed a knowledgeable Speaker capable of guiding policy discussions, budgets, ordinances, and oversight responsibilities.
“For the authority council to pass policies, budgets, and ordinances, and effectively oversee the administration of the city, it requires a Speaker who is knowledgeable and skilled to analyse issues,” Sebuwuufu said. He also appealed to councillors to put aside political affiliations and vote on merit in order to serve Kampala residents effectively.
Kalule, whose nomination was moved by James Munyozza and seconded by Aidah Zawedde, campaigned on improving councillors’ welfare and strengthening relations between the political and technical wings of KCCA. He pledged to lobby for better working conditions, health insurance, and a social security scheme for councillors if elected Speaker.
“I will lobby for improved welfare to match East African regional standards, push for health insurance and better working conditions for members,” Kalule told the council. In the race for Deputy Speaker, NUP’s Olive Nakazi emerged victorious after polling 20 votes against independent councillor Nicholas Kwarija, who garnered 15 votes. No invalid vote was recorded in the contest.
Nakazi based her campaign on inclusivity, gender equality, and improving the welfare of Kampala residents, particularly traders, casual workers, and struggling families. “We must rise above political parties and think about the people of Kampala, traders, casual workers, and families struggling to survive,” she said.
Kwarija, who represents workers, called for unity, teamwork, and political balance within the council.“The unity of this council is not expressed in words alone; it is expressed by the way we vote and work together,” he said.
Kampala Lord Mayor Ronald Balimwezo congratulated the newly elected leaders, noting that effective leadership goes beyond decisions made in boardrooms and should focus on serving the people of Kampala. Balimwezo urged the councillors always to front the voices of the local people, who include even the PWDs like him, who in their communities voted for them-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
