Incumbent Kampala Lord Mayor Ssalongo Erias Lukwago casts his vote at Bulwa Polling Station in Lungujja,Rubaga Division 22 Jan,2026. Photo by Ronald Kabuubi/KMA Updates.
By Naome Namusoke/ Ronald Kabuubi KMA Updates
Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago has cast his vote as he seeks to retain the city’s top political seat once again, marking another chapter in his long-running leadership of the Capital.
Lukwago, a seasoned city politician, is contesting for the Lord Mayor position for the fourth time, having previously served three terms. He was first elected in 2011, re-elected in 2016, and again in 2021, making him one of the longest-serving political heads of Kampala City.
Incumbent Kampala Lord Mayor Ssalongo Erias Lukwago smiles away shortly before casting his vote. Photo by Ronald Kabuubi/KMA Updates.
After voting, Lukwago reiterated his commitment to defending the rights of Kampala residents and strengthening urban governance, a message that has defined much of his tenure marked by frequent clashes with the executive arm of city administration and central government authorities.
Incumbent Kampala Lord Mayor Ssalongo Erias Lukwago walks away shortly before casting his vote. Photo by Ronald Kabuubi/KMA Updates.
In this election cycle, Lukwago faces stiff competition from Ronald Balimwezo, the Member of Parliament for Nakawa West Constituency, a seat he has served since 2016. Balimwezo, who has built his political base in eastern Kampala, is positioning himself as a fresh alternative, promising a more collaborative approach to city leadership and service delivery.
Incumbent Kampala Lord Mayor Ssalongo Erias Lukwago casts his vote at Bulwa Polling Station in Lungujja,Rubaga Division 22 Jan,2026. Photo by Ronald Kabuubi/KMA Updates.
The contest between the two has been framed as a choice between experience and continuity on one hand, and change and new leadership style on the other.
The Kampala Lord Mayoral race remains one of the most closely watched local contests in the country, given the city’s political significance and its role as Uganda’s economic hub. Voters are keenly observing how candidates address key issues including urban planning, service delivery, traffic congestion, sanitation, and the working relationship between elected leaders and the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) administration.
As voting continues, attention now turns to turnout levels and whether Lukwago’s long-standing political grip on the city will withstand Balimwezo’s challenge.
