Mao fronts wife against Lukwago in Kampala

KAMPALA - The battle for Kampala lord mayor seat continues to garner twists and turns, with the latest being the frantic mobilisation drives mounted by justice minister Norbert Mao, for his wife, Beatrice Nambi.

According insiders, Mao, who also this week picked nominations to run for the Democratic Party (DP) party president ahead of the party’s delegates conference on May 30, recently told his party top leadership that Nambi will oust Erias Lukwago from city hall come 2026. 

Nambi recently told Muslim leaders during a meeting at her residence that she will contest for Kampala lord mayor seat in 2026. 

This will be the second time that Nambi is daring Lukwago for the coveted Kampala top job. 

During the run-up to the 2021 general elections, Nambi was disqualified by the Electoral Commission on grounds that she was not a registered voter within the city. 

Confirming her move to contest, Nambi said: “In 2020/2021, they threw me out of the race on grounds that I was not on the voters’ register. But after the elections, I went straight to the Electoral Commission and we resolved the matter. Now, I am back and I am confident that the Kampala lord mayor seat will be mine come 2026.” 

As DP prepares for the May 30 delegates conference in Mbarara, Nambi’s posters drumming for support from delegates have also dotted major mobilisation drives. 

If DP officially nominates her to carry the party’s flag for the seat, Nambi will tussle it out with Lukwago, former Makindye East MP Ibrahim Kasozi, Moses Nsubuga Kizito, Daniel Kazibwe aka Ragga Dee and Nakawa East MP Ronald Balimwezo. 

Commenting about DP’s readiness for 2026, Mao said: “DP remains the most democratic political party in Uganda. Our internal organs are functional and disagreements do not equate to chaos. However, you the media have played a significant role in trying to disorganise DP.” 

In July 2022, Mao signed on behalf of DP a cooperation agreement with the ruling National Resistance Movement.