Eras Luyimbazi Nalukoola, the National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate won by landslide the Kawempe North constituency byelection on Thursday night. Despite the heavy presence of the military, the beatings, abductions, torture, teargas and all sorts of voter intimidation, the electorates voted for their preferred choice.
NUP candidate Luyimbazi and several of the party supporters including leaders have been subjected to excruciating torture and some are currently hospitalized with broken limbs.
NUP President Robbert Ssentamu Kyagulanyi said: “Congratulations, Comrade Nalukoola Erias Luyimbazi! The people have spoken, and their will has prevailed over guns! Your hard-fought victory is a testament to the resilience and power of the people when they stand firm for what is right!”
Bobi Wine added: “As we have always said, it is very possible to overwhelm the dictator in an election no matter what stops he pulls to rig it. This win is not just yours—it belongs to all those who refuse to be silenced; the millions who refuse to stop believing in the possibility of a new, better and brighter Uganda! The struggle continues!”
Luyimbazi defeated NRM candidate Farida Nambi with a difference of more than 9,000 votes. The former garnered 17,764 votes while the latter had 8,563 out of the 28,002 total vote cast. This means that Luyimbazi won with 63% percent while Nambi trailed with 30%.
Nevertheless, the voter turn up was very low compared to 2021 whereby the late area MP Muhammad Ssegirinya won with a difference of more than 35,000 votes. Besides, the Electoral Commission data shows Kawempe North has more than 100,000 registered voters. The low turn is largely attributed to security brutality that started as soon as the dominations were announced.