In an effort to compromise Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) Speaker Zaharah Luyirika’s plans to secure National Unity Platform (NUP) ticket for the position of Kampala Woman Member of Parliament, incumbent Shamim Malende has made a political coalition with Makindye West legislator Allan Ssewanyana to counter her competitor’s alleged bags of money.
According to sources, the decision resulted from a survey made by Malende to test her power on the ground and compare herself with her competitors.
It is alleged that according to Malende’s survey of the ground, she established that in the four Divisions of Kawempe, Kampala Central Division, Nakawa and Lubaga, she is performing very well and only struggling in Makindye Division the home area of her competitor Luyirika.
To solve the political puzzle, sources allege that Malende decided to consult Ssewanyana a son of the soil on how she can beat Luyirika even at her home tuff.
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The two agreed to join their political mobilization teams so that they work together in the field by assuring the electorates that Luyirika is artificial and a planned political project with intentions of weakening the opposition.
“People need to know where Luyirika is getting all that money she is spending in campaigns. We know the person she is working for and we want to inform the public before they make a decision of electing her,” one of Malende’s agents said.
This website has established that foot soldiers close to NUP’s Principal are eating well because Luyirika has poured millions of shillings to push her candidature at the headquarters and on social media.
Because Malende does not have Luyirika’s financial muscle, she has decided to concentrate on mobilizing voters on the ground.
NUP Electoral Management Committee (EMC) sources told Ono Bwino online that a candidate’s popularity on the ground will account for 60% of the total marks counted when giving out the party ticket to candidates while one’s performance at the party headquarters will attract 40%.
Sources disclosed that it was easy for Malende to cooperate with Ssewanyana because Luyirika first threatened Ssewanyana’s seat when she declared her move to contest against him in 2026. However, she shockingly shifted plans and decided to contest against Malende who was recovering from illness in a Nairobi hospital.
In Makindye West, Ssewanyana is contesting against Makindye Division mayor Ali Kasirye Mulyanyama for the ticket and sources at the headquarters allege that Bobi Wine is behind him because of the deal he accepted to leave the position of Kampala Lord Mayor for Ronald Balimwezo.
However, when contacted to explain where she is getting all the money she is spending in campaigns, Luyirika explained that she made a lot of money when she was still a councillor at KCCA in 2011 and when she was defeated in 2016, she was given a juicy job at KCCA which earned her a big salary and allowances.
When she returned at KCCA in 2021, she was appointed a speaker which meant that she was taking home not less than Shs13m a month, plus allowances. She also added that she is a business woman and runs a number of businesses in Kampala city.
She boasted that she is the biggest landlord with single rented houses in Makindye Division and receives not less than Shs250,000 a month from each room.
“I was born in a powerful family in Makindye. Our parents worked for us and they left assets behind for us. So I do not need to get money from Museveni or his son to run my private things,” Luyirika said.
She assured NUP leadership and supporters that she will accept and support Malende once defeated. She pleaded with her also to do the same because five years is not a long time for her to try again.
