The victory celebrations that erupted across parts of Kikuube District on Thursday night marked the end of a closely watched by-election. National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate Paddy Kisembo was elected as the new district chairperson, yet beneath the revelry lies a deeper story of voter apathy, political division, and high expectations for the oil-rich district’s new leader.
Kisembo secured a landslide victory with 26,612 votes, comfortably defeating National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate Fenekansi Timanyire, who garnered 8,712 votes.
The Kikuube District Returning Officer, Emmanuel Twine, announced the final results at 9:41 pm at the district headquarters.
‘Accordingly, as Returning Officer for Kikuube Electoral District and in accordance with Section 147 of the Local Government Act, Cap. 138, I declare Kisembo Paddy, who has obtained the largest number of votes, to be elected candidate for Kikuube Electoral District,’ Twine announced.
The by-election was organized by the Electoral Commission following the tragic death of former district chairperson Peter Banura Araali, who lost his life in a road crash on April 4 this year in Butyamba Cell, Kikuube Town Council.
The election attracted significant national attention, drawing senior government officials and NRM heavyweights to camp in the district during the campaign period. The race was widely viewed as a litmus test of political strength in an area where competition between the ruling NRM and opposition forces has steadily intensified.
While the Electoral Commission (EC) described the exercise as peaceful, concerns emerged over a starkly low voter turnout across many polling stations.
EC Chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama, who personally monitored the exercise, praised the conduct of voters, candidates, and election officials.
‘The election was very peaceful, and as the commission, we did not register a single incident of mishap or misconduct during the polling process,’ Justice Byabakama said.
However, he expressed disappointment over the empty polling booths. ‘I and my colleagues moved around the various polling stations in the district and we saw ourselves how the exercise was going on, but the only unfortunate bit was the low voter turnout in all the polling stations that we went to,’ he added.
Political analysts note that low voter turnout in by-elections has become a systemic issue in Uganda. Voters frequently view by-elections as less significant than general elections, while others point to economic hardships, political fatigue, and limited civic engagement as driving factors for staying away.
In Kikuube, residents expressed mixed reactions post-election. Some voiced confidence in the electoral process, expressing a desire for continuity in development programs. Others remained cynical, arguing that political leaders routinely over-promise during campaigns but fail to deliver once in office.
Kikuube’s strategic position at the center of Uganda’s burgeoning oil and gas industry makes local governance uniquely high-stakes. Residents widely expect district leadership to ensure local communities benefit directly from the massive investments flooding the petroleum sector.
Beyond oil, the new administration inherits a laundry list of local grievances, including dilapidated road networks, inadequate healthcare services, youth unemployment, and unresolved compensation disputes related to oil and gas infrastructure developments.
Speaking to this publication shortly after his victory was declared, Kisembo framed the outcome as a collective win.
‘I want to commend the people of Kikuube and everyone who has participated in this victory. It is not my own victory but the victory for the people of Kikuube and those who believe in me. We do not have time; we are ready to work, go on the ground, and serve the people,’ Kisembo said.
His victory speech shifted quickly toward internal party politics, where he called for reconciliation within the NRM, acknowledging that the grueling campaign period had exposed deep fractures among party supporters.
‘We have gone through a lot, but I want to call on the NRM fraternity and all the people of Kikuube to come on board and put Kikuube first. I want to ask for forgiveness from those whom I have wronged and urge the NRM family to be united because we are a family. Once we are united, we shall be able to work for our people,’ Kisembo urged.
Political observers note that patching up these internal party rifts will be one of Kisembo’s immediate hurdles, as lingering primary disputes often hamstring local governance.
Dr. Rosemary Sseninde, the NRM Director for Mobilisation, echoed the calls for unity, urging party members to pivot from politics to development.
‘After our flag bearer winning the election, it is now time for him to work for the residents of Kikuube. I want to advise party members to end the divisions that they have been having but rather work as a team for the betterment of their district,’ Dr. Sseninde said.
For Kikuube’s residents, the election marks the beginning of a fresh mandate. Community leaders maintain that the district requires aggressive investments in education, healthcare, agriculture, and infrastructure, alongside transparency in managing local resources. The incoming chairperson faces the immediate task of filling the vacuum left by Banura, whose sudden demise disrupted several critical district programs.