Nakawa West MP Ronald Balimwezo has been unveiled as the National Unity Platform’s (NUP) official flagbearer for Kampala Lord Mayor in the 2026 general elections.
The announcement was made on Friday as NUP released a list of successful candidates emerging from its district-level primaries, confirming Balimwezo as the party’s choice for the capital’s top political office.
Balimwezo, who last month declared he would not seek re-election to Parliament, is redirecting his political focus to City Hall, challenging longtime incumbent Erias Lukwago.
The outspoken legislator has already been visible in party strategy, having recently been named head of NUP’s fundraising campaign under the “Protest Vote 2026” drive.
A seasoned city politician, Balimwezo first rose to prominence as Mayor of Nakawa Division under the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC).
He later crossed to Robert Kyagulanyi’s (Bobi Wine’s) camp in 2020 and went on to win the newly created Nakawa West parliamentary seat in the 2021 elections.
Known for his vocal stance on governance, service delivery and the rights of urban residents, Balimwezo now seeks to leverage his city-level experience to unseat Lukwago, who has maintained a firm grip on the Lord Mayor’s office for over a decade.
His candidacy sets the stage for what is expected to be one of Kampala’s most closely watched races in 2026.
