Muhammad Luswa Luwemba, formerly an aide to the late Kawempe North legislator Muhammad Ssegirinya, has been officially nominated to contest in the upcoming by-election scheduled for March 2025. Arriving at the Electoral Commission offices on a boda boda, Luswa was verified and assigned a radio as his campaign symbol, despite his initial request for a watch.
The nomination process experienced delays due to discrepancies in his documentation. However, after a thorough review, Luswa was cleared to run. Expressing frustration over the delays, he emphasized the need for a fair electoral process and warned against any irregularities.
Muhammad Luswa had previously sought the National Unity Platform (NUP) ticket for the by-election but was unsuccessful, finishing third in a race won by Elias Luyimbazi Nalukoola. Despite an agreement among NUP aspirants to support the chosen flag bearer, Luswa and Moses Nsereko have decided to contest as independent candidates.
The Kawempe North seat became vacant following the death of Muhammad Ssegirinya on January 9, 2025. As the nomination process continues, the Electoral Commission is scrutinizing and verifying other candidates. The upcoming by-election is expected to be highly competitive, with Luswa’s concerns about fairness likely to influence the campaign dynamics.
The Electoral Commission (EC) has so far nominated three candidates for the upcoming Kawempe North by-election, out of the 13 aspirants who initially picked nomination forms.
The confirmed candidates include independent candidate Hanifa Karadi, who has been assigned the clock as her election symbol, former personal assistant to the late Muhammad Sseggirinya, Alex Luswa Luwemba, and lawyer Elrias Nalukoola of the National Unity Platform (NUP).
However, Nalukoola’s nomination process was marked by tension and chaotic scenes after he was initially denied access to the EC offices. Security officials insisted that his scheduled nomination time of 11:00 AM had not yet arrived, leading to a standoff.
The situation escalated when NUP Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya intervened, questioning the fairness of the process. His concerns were further fueled by reports that Nalukoola’s official election agent had allegedly been abducted, raising concerns about potential irregularities in the nomination process.
As the by-election race heats up, all eyes remain on the EC to ensure a fair and transparent process for all candidates.
