Elias Nalukoola Luyimbazi of the Opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) party has been declared the winner of the Kawempe North parliamentary by-election.
The Electoral Commission Returning Officer, Henry Makabayi, announced Nalukoola after completing the vote tallying exercise held at Makerere University at around 12.30am on Friday morning.
Nalukoola polled 17,764 votes of the 2800,2 ballot papers counted. In second place was NRM’s Faridah Nambi who garnered 8,593 votes. FDC’s Sadat Mukiibi, aka Aganaga, got 239 votes; independents Luwemba Waswa Muhamood garnered 240 votes; Hanifah Karadi Murerwa (381) and Mutazindwa Muhamood (186).
Milton Obote’s son Edward Stanley Maitum, also an independent, could only manage 22 votes, DP’s Henry Kasaca Mubiru got 100 votes, PPP’s Ismael Musiitwa got 39 votes while Moses Nsereko, also an Independent, got 32 votes.
The total number of valid votes cast was 27,596, 406 were invalid, and 49 were spoilt.
Speaking to journalists shortly after being declared winner, Nalukoola said: “This is not my victory, nor my party’s. It’s for the people of Kawempe and all Ugandans… We still have a long way to go.”
NUP Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya said: “The Kawempe North by-election has been bittersweet. This victory is for the people of Uganda and Kawempe, despite it being one of the most violent elections in our history.”
On his part, NRM vice chairperson Buganda Sub-region, Godfrey Kiwanda, said his party’s performance in Kawempe North MP by-election was impressive, adding that they will now focus on attempting to secure seats in the Buganda region in the 2026 general election.
Nalukoola Luyimbazi was announced winner of the March 13 by-election that was held amid heavy security deployment and arrest and brutality of journalists, some opposition MPs and their supporters.
NMG journalists Hasifah Nanvuma and David Ijjo were assaulted while on duty, while Raymond Tamale, Abu Lubowa and Denis Kabugo were not only beaten, but arrested and appeared after four hours with visible wounds on their bodies.
The African Centre for Media Excellence (ACME) yesterday strongly condemned the brutal attacks on journalists covering the Kawempe North by-election, calling for immediate accountability and an end to the impunity of security operatives.