Kamuli town was buzzing with excitement and tension on Friday as four candidates were officially nominated to contest for the district’s most powerful political office — the LCV chairperson seat.
From party diehards in yellow, to opposition faithful in blue, and independents flanked by hopeful supporters, the nomination center at the district headquarters turned into a festival of songs, slogans, and political promises.
The Returning Officer, Mr. Kayabwe Kenneth, confirmed the names of those who made it onto the ballot: Mr. Dhizaala Kaloli, the NRM flag bearer; Mr. Mutebe Tayoleka, flying the FDC flag; and two independents, Mr. Ndegwe Mubarak and Mr. Kalulu Robert.
“We have nominated four people who fulfilled all the requirements. It is now up to them to go and look for votes in the community. Let them talk to the voters to make their choice,” Mr. Kayabwe said, drawing applause from the gathered crowd.
Not everyone, however, left the center smiling. The National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate, Mr. Ibanda Dasadi, was disqualified for failing to present the required number of registered supporters from each sub-county.
“He was supposed to bring 50 per sub-county but only managed 15, which is below the threshold. We could not nominate him,” the Returning Officer explained, as murmurs of disappointment rippled through a small group of NUP supporters.
After receiving their nomination papers, the candidates wasted no time in hitting the campaign trail — each painting a vision for Kamuli’s future.
Mr. Dhizaala Kaloli, draped in NRM colors and surrounded by a cheering crowd, pledged to bring jobs, transparency, and better services.
“We shall make sure Kamuli is not left behind. Our focus will be service delivery, good governance, and creating opportunities for the youth,” he promised.
But not all NRM members are united behind him. Mr. Kalulu Robert, who lost in the party primaries, declared that he could not sit back after what he described as a “rigged” contest.
“The people of Kamuli need my leadership. I was not convinced by the violence and malpractice in the primaries. That is why I stand as an independent,” he told his supporters.
Veteran contender Mr. Ndegwe Mubarak, running for the third time, positioned himself as the man to finally break what he calls “stagnant leadership.”
“This is the time for change. I ask the people of Kamuli to entrust me with this seat so that we can rewrite the story of our district,” he said passionately.
FDC’s Mr. Mutebe Tayoleka struck a similar tone, urging voters to look beyond party colors.
“Kamuli deserves better. We must embrace change for effective service delivery across all sectors,” he said, greeted with chants of “FDC oyee!”
Despite divisions, the NRM camp remains hopeful. Sarah Auma, who finished as second runner-up in the primaries, along with four other contestants, has pledged to rally behind Mr. Kaloli. Their support, however, may not fully heal the cracks within the party.
On the streets, ordinary residents expressed mixed feelings. Some believe only the ruling party can guarantee government services, while others see independents as voices of defiance against “party politics.” A few opposition supporters quietly whispered that this might be the moment for an outsider to make history.
For now, Kamuli’s chairperson seat remains as hot as ever — and the stage is set for weeks of intense campaigning. As drums, slogans, and promises fill the villages and trading centers, the people of Kamuli will be the ultimate jury in deciding who leads them into the future.
