Murari’s Mbarara mayoral campaign champions cleaner city justice, community

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Seth Murari aka Muzahura wa City Yeitu, has officially declared his candidacy for the Mbarara City Mayorship. 

Murari, a civic leader and environmental advocate, who is also the father of the late Martha Ahumuza. Ahumuza recently lost her life in Kampala city-based bar Mezonoir, a case that recently gripped the nation.

While Murari has kept his family’s loss largely private, he says his campaign is rooted in a deeper mission to restore dignity, justice and integrity to a city grappling with systemic urban challenges. His decision to run, announced last month, was met with widespread enthusiasm, especially from residents who have long admired his dedication to public service and grassroots mobilisation.

Over the years, Murari has gained acclaim for spearheading the “Clean Mbarara City” campaign. At the heart of this effort is the Save River Rwizi Marathon, an annual event he founded to raise awareness of River Rwizi’s degradation, a vital water source increasingly threatened by pollution and mismanagement.

Over the years, Murari has gained acclaim for spearheading the “Clean Mbarara City” campaign. (Courtesy)

Through the funds and attention garnered by the marathon, Murari says he has overseen the construction of several underground waste bunkers across the city. These infrastructural innovations are helping curb illegal dumping and reduce pressure on the river’s ecosystem.

His campaign is not solely built on environmental reform. Murari has also played a pivotal role in promoting community sports and culture as tools for unity and socio-economic empowerment.

Murari (c). (Courtesy)

He is credited for organising crowd-pulling moto rallies at Booma Grounds, events that have become staples on Mbarara’s calendar, drawing vendors, youth, and spectators in droves and injecting life into local businesses.

On Saturday, May 3, 2025, Murari officiated a football match between Mbarara Taxi Operators and the Garage Operators Association at the Global High School playgrounds. The match was more than just a game; it was a deliberate act of community building. 

“This is about restoring trust and pride among those who keep the city running,” Murari said at the event. “The boda riders, the mechanics, the vendors, they are Mbarara. And this city must work for them,” he said.

Murari’s mayoral platform emphasises participatory governance, sustainable urban development, and improved service delivery.

His vocal critics argue that his idealism might clash with the entrenched bureaucratic hurdles within City Hall. However, his supporters, including market women and university students, view him as a bridge between policy and people.

Being a native son of Mbarara, Murari says he brings intimate knowledge of the city’s pulse, its politics and its pain points. His late daughter’s case, though not central to his campaign, remains a quiet reminder of his stake in issues of justice and accountability.

“I come not just as a politician,” Murari told supporters during a recent walk-through of Kakoba Division. “I come as a father, a friend, and a servant to the people of this great city. We owe it to ourselves and to our children to build a better Mbarara.”