NRM dominates Mukono parish chairperson elections amid peaceful process

Voting for parish chairpersons across Mukono District’s 97 parishes concluded without major incident, with the National Resistance Movement (NRM) securing a dominant share of the seats amid tightened security and widespread reports of orderly conduct.

According to Mukono Returning Officer George William Eliau, the NRM won 80 of the 97 parish chairperson positions, representing about 82 percent. Independent candidates took 11 seats (about 11 percent), the National Unity Platform (NUP) secured five (5 percent), and the Democratic Party (DP) claimed two (2 percent).

“We have registered success in each and every parish. There was no case of violence there was no case of intimidation of voters,” Eliau said.

He noted that no petitions had been received following the polls and thanked candidates and their supporters for adhering to electoral guidelines and showing mutual respect.

The peaceful outcome mirrored the women’s councils and committees elections held the previous Sunday. In those contests, also covering all 97 parishes, the NRM took 92 of the women’s chairperson positions, Independents three, and NUP two. Across the five offices on each committee (chairperson, vice chairperson, general secretary, public secretary and finance secretary), the NRM captured 452 of the 485 available positions 94 percent while Independents took 25 (5 percent) and NUP six (1 percent).

Eliau described the overall process as smooth and expressed gratitude to voters for maintaining peace.

Specific results from individual parishes underscored the NRM’s strong showing. In Namumira Parish, voting closed around 8am  under tight security led by the head of operations, ASP Dison Ngobi, and Wantoni police officer ASP Katabazi. Mukono Central Division election officer Robert Sekirya briefed participants on procedures before voting began; the exercise lasted about one and a half hours. Stephen Kiggudu of the NRM defeated Independent candidate Sam Ssenyonjo 63 votes to 31 (one account recorded the loser with 32).

Voters attributed Kiggudu’s re-election to visible gains under the Parish Development Model (PDM), saying he had distributed government programmes effectively and served residents without political discrimination.

Mukono Municipality Mayor Robert Kabanda and other leaders stressed the importance of LC2 leadership for community development and urged officials to set partisan differences aside. After his victory, Kiggudu thanked voters and pledged continued service. Sekirya later praised both the electorate and security personnel for the orderly process.

In Nantabulirwa, Goma Division, NRM candidate and greater Mukono ONC coordinator John Baptist Wamala defeated former Mukono Municipality Speaker Dorah Nakaddu Lwembawo of the NUP by 58 votes to 23. Wamala subsequently selected NUP’s Allan Musisi to serve as secretary on his committee.

In Ntawo Parish  Dr. Paul Kibuuka overwhelmed former area councillor John Sebunya, winning 70 votes to three. Victorious candidates across the district said they would prioritise monitoring government programmes especially the fight against corruption in PDM implementation improving health services, and serving without regard to party affiliation.

Defeated candidate , including Nakaddu alleged that some voters had been induced with money and called on the President to investigate, warning that such practices could produce undeserving leaders.

NUP’s Mukono registrar Richard Kasirivu Lugolobi who contested in one of the races, said the opposition managed only three of eight villages in his parish, with five going to the NRM. He attributed the shortfall to reports of large sums distributed among voters.

NRM parish chairperson Hannington Kabuggo Tamale praised voters for choosing leaders capable of delivering government programmes and urged the newly elected officials to serve the public without introducing partisan divisions.

Overall, officials described the elections as a success marked by calm, high participation and respect for electoral rules, even as isolated complaints of inducement surfaced. The results leave the NRM firmly in control of parish-level leadership across Mukono while underscoring the continuing role of local structures in channelling government development initiatives to residents.