By Nakawa East MP Ronald Balimwezo has publicly defended his decision to step aside from parliamentary re-election and instead contest for the Kampala Lord Mayorship setting up a dramatic race against incumbent Erias Lukwago, a fellow opposition figure.
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In an interview on a local television station in Kampala, Balimwezo said his decision was driven by what he described as the urgent need for strong, technical leadership to rescue the capital from worsening urban challenges. He cited his background as an engineer and long-standing city planner as critical to confronting Kampala’s infrastructure and environmental crises.
“In simple terms, Kampala is the capital city of Uganda the economic hub, and the face of the country. It needs someone who has a passion for serving its people,” Balimwezo said.
Highlighting recurring problems such as flooding, poor garbage collection, and dilapidated road infrastructure, Balimwezo argued that Kampala’s problems are largely technical and require a leader with engineering expertise.
“We lose almost 200 million U.S. dollars every time it rains in Kampala,” he said, pointing to flood-related losses and their impact on national productivity. “That affects the entire economy.”
On waste management, he noted that Kampala generates over 2,500 tons of garbage daily, but the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) collects less than half. “These challenges have reduced Kampala to the dirtiest city in East Africa,” he stated.
Balimwezo also decried the state of Kampala’s road network, revealing that out of the city’s 2,110 kilometers of roads, only 640 are tarmacked, and just 30% of those are in good condition. “The rest have outlived their design life. We must revamp the entire road system,” he said, adding that roads contribute to over 90% of Uganda’s transport needs.
While his decision has raised eyebrows and stirred concerns about a fragmented opposition, Balimwezo insists the Lord Mayorship requires a shift from political rhetoric to technical solutions. “We need an engineer to fix Kampala,” he said firmly
The race for Kampala Lord Mayor is now shaping into a high-stakes contest, with two seasoned opposition leaders facing off amid concerns that the rivalry could divide votes and weaken the opposition’s urban stronghold.
