By Ritah Atukwatse,
KAMPALA
Kampala ground to a standstill on Wednesday as presidential hopefuls flocked to the Electoral Commission (EC) headquarters in Lweza, Makindye Ssabagabo, Wakiso District for nomination. Heavy rains, choking traffic, and seas of party colors turned the capital into a carnival of politics.
The worst gridlocks were reported in Nateete, Butabika, and along Entebbe Road, where vehicles were stuck for hours as thousands of chanting supporters escorted their candidates amid tight security.
First to be nominated were Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) flag bearer Nathan Nandala Mafabi James and Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) leader Gen. Mugisha Muntu Greg Oyera, a former army commander, in the morning hours. At about 1:35 p.m., National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu—popularly known as Bobi Wine—arrived at the EC for his nomination.
A heavy downpour in the afternoon delayed the program for several other candidates, including Mubarak Munyagwa alias Mugati gwa Bata of the Common Man’s Party (CMP) and Frank Bulira Kalingo of the Revolutionary People’s Party (RPP).
Security was visibly heightened ahead of Kyagulanyi’s arrival. Access roads to the EC were sealed off, and additional police and military personnel deployed. Several NUP supporters, among them Makindye West MP Allan Ssewanyana, were arrested at Lweza Junction and bundled into a police van.
Still, Kampala and its suburbs burst with color: red for NUP, blue for FDC, and purple for ANT. Supporters waved flags, sang songs, and danced, as police maintained tight control at all major junctions leading to the EC.
But the excitement came at a cost. “I spent almost three hours stuck from Nateete to Kibuye. The rain only made it worse,” said Abdu Kato, a taxi driver.
Boda boda riders also struggled. “By mid-day, I had carried only six passengers. Usually, I carry more than double. Everywhere was blocked,” said David Ssemwanga from Makindye.
Parents in Nateete, Luzira, and Namuwongo picked their children late from school, while traders had mixed fortunes. Some lost business, while others profited by selling food, umbrellas, and party flags to the crowds.
“It looked like a festival,” said Moses Okello, a shopkeeper in Luzira where Nandala Mafabi held his first rally. “The colors were beautiful, but the jam and rain were too much.”
In Nateete, Bobi Wine addressed a huge crowd clad in red berets, T-shirts, and overalls emblazoned with slogans. Supporters broke into song, chanting NUP anthems. Yet some residents accused government of intimidation. “The heavy deployment is to scare already oppressed Ugandans who want to freely exercise their political rights,” said Sarah Namutebi, a vendor.
The scenes mirrored Tuesday’s opening of nominations, when hundreds of National Resistance Movement (NRM) supporters in bright yellow T-shirts lined the roads to welcome President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. After his nomination, Museveni addressed his first rally at Kololo Independence Grounds, where supporters including schoolchildren, cheered as musicians entertained. Other candidates nominated on day one included Robert Kasibante of the National Peasants Party (NPP) and Elton Joseph Mabirizi of the Conservative Party (CP).
By evening on Wednesday, police gradually cleared the roads, but the day left lasting memories of gridlock, rain, and relentless political energy.
Meanwhile, the EC, chaired by Justice Simon Mugyenyi Byabakama, confirmed that only eight candidates had successfully been nominated for the 2026 presidential race. Unlike in previous elections, no female or independent candidates made the final list.
With campaigns officially opening on Monday, September 29, Ugandans now brace for more color, heightened security, and an intensified political season.
