By KT Reporter
At first the NUP top party leadership feared sacrificing their Joel Ssenyonyi because they were not very sure that anyone could defeat Erias Lukwago for the position of Kampala lord mayor. That is why in 2021 they fronted Nabillah Nagayi before ‘sacrificing’ Ronald Balimwezo in 2026.
To Kyagulanyi, the two were disposable politicians who he didn’t need that much. He could afford to have them defeated and forced into political retirement. But after Balimwezo defeating Lukwago in 2026, the NUP leadership realized it’s possible to get the position and that is why Kyagulanyi is determined to front his blue eyed boy Joel Ssenyonyi come 2031.
Because he is fully aware of all this move, Balimwezo is already nervous and doesn’t trust some of the people at Kavule 100% anymore and that is why even when he was creating his executive, he favored the people he personally felt comfortable with to be in his executive. Kavule wanted someone else Judith Nalukwago of Makindye for deputy lord mayor, but Balimwezo ignored them and gave it to Faridah Nakabugo who used to attack Erias Lukwago very badly.
Balimwezo also went on to get personal assistants for all his ministers, and ignored those Kavule had recommended. Already Balimwezo is facing problems inside his NUP caucus at city hall because he is sure many of the members are moles spying on him for Kavule.
People at Kavule wanted John Sebuwufu to be the speaker of KCCA replacing Zahara Kayulika and Balimwezo had his own candidate who was Godfrey Luyombya. For deputy speaker the position was taken by Olive Namazzi who defeated someone else who Balimwezo preferred. Balimwezo is uneasy towards both Sebuwufu and Namazzi because he thinks they quietly supported Erias Lukwago and not him.
Lukwago had favored both of them with juicy posts in his cabinet and had a good relationship with them which is why they were not okay fighting him openly. All these things are combining to make life hard for Balimwezo who already doesn’t see eye to eye with some NUP MPs in Kampala for example Euginia Nassolo and Shamim Malende. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com.
