Only one candidate has been nominated to contest on the National Unity Platform (NUP) ticket in Fort Portal City’s upcoming Local Council I (LC I) chairperson elections.
Fort Portal City Returning Officer Isaac Byamugisha said the Electoral Commission nominated 197 National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidates, one National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate and 229 independents. No other political parties fielded candidates for the LC I chairperson races.
The lone NUP flag bearer is Rodger Akugizibwe, who is contesting for LC I chairperson of Karambi I Cell in Karambi Ward, Fort Portal North Division. He faces two other candidates. According to Davis Rwamuhumbu, the NUP coordinator for the Tooro region, the low number of opposition candidates shows growing fear among the party’s supporters.
Rwamuhumbu said the January presidential and parliamentary elections were marred by vote rigging, violence and intimidation targeting opposition supporters, discouraging many from openly contesting in the village elections.
He argued that openly supporting opposition parties has become increasingly risky, with some supporters facing arrests while others fear political persecution. Rwamuhumbu said that despite fielding only one candidate in Fort Portal City, NUP has managed to nominate 14 candidates across the Tooro sub-region. He added that several opposition supporters opted to contest as independents to avoid being publicly identified with the party.
Despite the low numbers, Rwamuhumbu expressed confidence that NUP candidates would perform well. He also welcomed the Electoral Commission’s decision to conduct voting by lining up behind candidates, arguing that the method is more transparent than using ballot papers. “The ballot box can be manipulated, but when people line up, everyone sees the outcome,” he said.
For Akugizibwe, running on the NUP ticket is about addressing what he describes as years of neglect in Karambi I Cell. He said residents have not benefited from Fort Portal’s elevation to city status despite paying taxes, pointing to poor roads, inadequate garbage collection and limited access to clean water as some of the area’s biggest challenges.
Akugizibwe said residents currently pay 500 shillings for a 20-litre jerrycan of water and pledged to lobby for the installation of public water taps to reduce the cost. He also identified insecurity, particularly livestock theft, as a major concern, accusing the current village leadership of failing to effectively address residents’ complaints.
Although he acknowledged that some NUP supporters declined to contest because of intimidation, Akugizibwe said he was determined to remain on the party ticket regardless of the consequences.
Akugizibwe further revealed that some voters have demanded money in exchange for their support during the campaign, while others have openly told him they would not vote for him because he belongs to NUP.
Residents interviewed by URN, however, said they are more interested in leaders who can solve local problems than in political party affiliation.
Jackline Kiconco, a resident of Karambi I Cell, said voters should elect leaders based on their ability to deliver services and attract development rather than the political parties they represent. She identified poor roads and the lack of clean water as some of the community’s most pressing needs.
Alex Kalinti said insecurity, particularly the theft of goats and poultry, remains a major challenge that the next village leadership should address.
Another resident, Annet Kengonzi, said many village chairpersons have stayed in office for years without delivering meaningful development. She also accused some local leaders of demanding money from residents before stamping official documents. Campaigns for the LC I elections began on Monday ahead of polling scheduled for July 28-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
