Former Kampala Woman Member of Parliament, Hon. Nabilah Naggayi, has declared her intention to contest for the Kampala Lord Mayor seat in the upcoming elections, marking her return to active politics after a four-year hiatus.
Speaking on Sanyuka TV on Monday morning, Naggayi confirmed she will run as an independent candidate, distancing herself from any political party.
“I haven’t given up. I’m making a comeback and will be on the ballot for Lord Mayor—as an independent candidate,” she announced.
Naggayi, who was last on the ballot in 2021 under the National Unity Platform (NUP), was defeated by the incumbent Erias Lukwago, who secured a commanding 194,592 votes against her 60,082.
Since that loss, she has kept a low profile politically.
“I chose to take a step back to understand what was going on,” she explained. “My conclusion is that political parties today are not here to serve the people, but rather to advance selfish interests.”
Her comments were a direct swipe at both the NUP and the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), the two opposition parties with which she has been affiliated in the past. In 2020, she expressed interest in the Kampala Lord Mayor race on the FDC ticket, but the party rejected her nomination papers, citing irregularities. Not long after, the FDC unveiled Lukwago as their official flag bearer.
Reflecting on her experience in opposition politics, Naggayi stated:
“I have been observing NUP, and having been in FDC, I can say I was a whistleblower who spoke out about how it would eventually fall.”
Her announcement sets the stage for what could be a heated race for the city’s top civic seat. Lukwago, a two-term Lord Mayor, remains a formidable incumbent, and Naggayi’s return introduces a familiar but controversial figure back into the fold. NUP is set to front Nakawa East Member of Parliament, Ronald Balimwezo.
