By KT Reporter
Jinja City Mayor Alton Kasolo has defied the National Unity Platform (NUP) guidelines and declared he will contest as an independent candidate in the upcoming mayoral race. This follows his loss of the party flag to former Jinja Central Division L.C.III chairperson, Mubarak Kirunda.
Kirunda, once a prominent member of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), defected after losing the party flag to William Ebusa in the 2021 elections. He later evicted FDC offices from his premises in Southern Division after a bitter fallout with party leaders, accusing them of betrayal. Kirunda then welcomed NUP by offering them the same office space, a gesture some party members believe influenced his endorsement over old party loyalists.
Political commentators say Kirunda’s nomination reflects broader shifts in Jinja politics. Gerald Musisi, a local analyst, argued that Kirunda’s record as division chairperson was marred by land grabbing scandals, including wetlands encroachment, illegal titling of public spaces, and disputed takeovers of service lanes. He noted that such issues cost old-guard leaders public trust, clearing the way for a new generation of politicians.
Musisi added that the new leaders—who command wider grassroots support—have faced fewer land scandals and built goodwill among residents. Madina Namubiru, another analyst, noted that the current Jinja City Council has more opposition leaders than the former municipality regime, raising public expectations of improved service delivery. She credited the current administration with setting up a defined enforcement team to clear street vendors, demolish illegal structures, and restore order in the central business district.
She also praised their intervention in the Jinja Central Market, where committees reorganized traders and curtailed the dominance of large-scale stall owners, allowing more vendors to operate freely. “This earned wider support as more small traders gained access,” Namubiru said.
However, not all commentators agree. Nicholas Mugimba argued that the current leadership, dominated by opposition figures, is struggling to balance expectations. He said youthful NUP “foot soldiers” accuse them of siding with the ruling NRM because of their preference for dialogue over confrontation.
“Unlike Kirunda who often staged public protests, Kasolo comes across as a corporate-style leader—fond of attending security meetings, upholding city order, and cracking down on illegal settlers in wetlands and road reserves,” Mugimba observed.
He added that despite achievements like improved road maintenance, street lighting, and better waste management, the leadership faces a growing storm of blackmail on social media platforms where critics brand them as government collaborators.
Esther Mutesi, a history tutor, described Kasolo as “an outsider” challenging Jinja’s political culture. She said while Kasolo’s disciplined, service-focused leadership style is commendable, many residents expect politicians to provide handouts for school fees, burial expenses, and capital.
“Uganda is running short of critical thinkers. In Jinja, like elsewhere, mediocrity is increasingly shaping election patterns rather than meritocracy,” Mutesi noted. Kasolo himself maintains he has been a consistent service delivery champion despite hostility from within his party.
“I am equally a human being with emotional attributes, and over time my party has looked down on me over baseless allegations. But I have availed myself for the mayoral race—it is upon the electorate to decide,” he said. Kirunda, meanwhile, said his campaign will prioritize reducing heavy-handed enforcement against traders in favor of dialogue.
On the other side, NRM candidate Hamis Nagayi has promised to “end opposition dominance in Jinja” and position himself as a bridge to government resources, arguing that direct lobbying will improve social services. With nominations entering their second day, more aspirants are expected to book their place in the race for Jinja’s top political seat, setting the stage for a competitive and ideologically divided contest.
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