Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu (Bobi Wine) and other National Unity Platform (NUP) top leaders have given tough conditions to party councilors who are contesting for the office of Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) Council speaker.
KCCA councillors are expected to elect their council speaker to replace Zahara Luyirika between May and June 2026 and a number of candidates have already started expressing their interest in the position. Among them include: Shamim Nambasa, Godfrey Luyombya and Umar Magala all from NUP party
One of the aspirants told this reporter that David Lewis Rubongoya the NUP Secretary General issued a directive stopping them from campaigning noting that it will be the party to nominate a suitable candidate who they will front to contest for the said office.
He added that Rubongoya explained to them that campaigning was going to divide them and create fights even before they start working for their voters.
More Read
“The Party leadership are also scared because contesting for that position needs a lot of money, so mafias with interests in the city deals may use this opportunity to fund one of the aspirant’s candidature with a mission of compromising him in the future,” he said.
Ono Bwino understands that money is a big factor in determining the winner and sources allege that Luyirika used more than Shs150m to secure the spot while the first KCCA speaker after the amendment of the KCC laws used not less than Shs180m.
KCCA speakers receive a monthly salary between Shs13.8m to Shs14.7m, other benefits include a car, a personal assistant, and a furnished office.
NUP has the largest number of councilors o(18) but the party leadership is scared that the National Resistance Movement (NRM) financial muscle may be used to compromise them to vote for opposing candidates as they did when voting for Lubaga Division speaker in 2021.
NRM is not far behing with 16 councillors and they have fronted Shafick Kalyango the Kampala Central councillor to carry their flag.
Sources said that Kalyango being a blue-eyed boy to Maj Gen Christopher Ddamulira the police’s Crime Intelligence director, has set aside millions of money to help him to run the said campaign
“NRM is very interested in taking that office of the KCCA speaker, I’m very sure Kalyango will be well facilitated because he is their very own unlike previous times where they have been supporting opposition candidates. If he wins, he will help them to execute their interests very well,” a senior councilor said.
