Makindye Division has been thrown into political turmoil following a controversial decision by the Electoral Commission (EC) that has sparked anger, confusion, and accusations of political bias.
On Monday, 5 January 2026, the Electoral Commission disqualified 11 candidates from the Makindye Division mayoral race, including National Unity Platform (NUP) flag bearer John Bosco Luba Lusagala. The affected candidates came from different political parties as well as the independent camp. The decision effectively cleared the path for the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate, Yasin Omari, who is now standing unopposed.
According to the Electoral Commission, the disqualified candidates failed to comply with key electoral requirements. These included failure to secure the mandatory 20 supporters’ signatures from each parish, submitting signatures of non-residents of Makindye Division, and other nomination irregularities.
The move has dealt a major blow to NUP’s political strategy in Makindye. Lusagala had recently been endorsed by the party after his earlier attempt to contest for the Makindye East parliamentary seat was unsuccessful. That seat was instead allocated to Ali Nganda Kasirye Mulyanyama, the incumbent Makindye Mayor.
In the wake of Lusagala’s disqualification, scrutiny has intensified around Mulyanyama himself. He continues to face questions over his academic qualifications and a change of name. Records indicate that in 2016 he changed his name from Nganda Alan to Ali Kasirye Nganda Ali. Critics have also challenged his claim of having studied abroad, arguing that he only submitted Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) results to the Electoral Commission.
The decision has drawn a sharp reaction from NUP President Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine. Writing on his X (formerly Twitter) account, Kyagulanyi accused President Yoweri Museveni and Electoral Commission chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama of deliberately targeting opposition candidates.
“Whatever they are looking for, they will definitely get,” Kyagulanyi wrote, vowing that NUP would continue resisting what he described as electoral injustice until Uganda is free.
As tensions rise, the Makindye Division race has become a fresh flashpoint in the ongoing debate over electoral fairness, transparency, and the credibility of Uganda’s electoral process ahead of the 2026 general elections.
