The National Resistance Movement (NRM) Electoral Commission has declared Phillip Burnett Mbabazi as the party flag bearer for the Kikuube District LCV by-election after he emerged as the winner in the party primaries held on Thursday.
Mbabazi, a son of Uganda’s Ambassador to Burundi, Matayo Kyaligonza, defeated three contenders to secure the NRM ticket. He polled 23,279 votes, beating his closest rival, Paddy Kisembo, who garnered 16,459 votes. Dickson Tusabe came third with 343 votes, while Valentino Rubasharaza trailed with 81 votes.
The results were announced at 1:00 a.m. on Friday by Paschal Musuuga, the NRM District Elections Officer for Kikuube, at Sir Tito Primary School in Kizirafumbi, Kikuube Town Council. Musuuga described the election as free, fair, and peaceful.
Speaking shortly after his victory, Mbabazi pledged to unite the various tribes in Kikuube to promote development and improve service delivery in key sectors, including health, road infrastructure, electricity connectivity, agricultural productivity, and education.
Mbabazi will now face candidates from other political parties in the Kikuube LCV by-election scheduled for June 18, 2026.
The Electoral Commission (EC) last month released the roadmap for the by-election, outlining activities leading to polling day. Key activities under the roadmap included the update of the Voters Register at the parish level, the display of the register at polling stations, and the nomination of candidates, which is scheduled for May 25 and 26 at Kikuube District headquarters.
The by-election was necessitated by the death of former Kikuube District Chairperson Peter Banura, who died in a road accident on April 4, 2026, along the Hoima-Fort Portal Road. Banura reportedly was speaking to a group of people on the roadside when a speeding taxi rammed into them, killing him instantly. He was 48.
Banura, also a son of Matayo Kyaligonza, was first elected Kikuube District LCV Chairperson in 2021 and had recently secured re-election with 37,455 votes, defeating his closest challenger, Phenekansi Timanyire of the National Unity Platform (NUP), who polled 6,230 votes-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
