But Mr Mubiru is not alone in this historic village leadership, with some of his long-serving contemporaries also retaining their LC1 top seats in the just-concluded Local Council elections held in 71,214 villages across the country.
The residents attribute the unparalleled records of service to accessibility and commitment to community development. But some of these leaders have also barely scraped through after a tight race to defend the seats they have occupied for decades.
Mr Mubiru of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party traces his leadership journey of Kalangala Village to more than four decades ago.
‘During the [Milton] Obote regime, I served as one of the Mayumba Kumi leaders. From there, I joined the National Resistance Army (NRA), and my leadership journey formally began in 1985. I have continued serving the people up to today,’ he proudly says.
Mr Mubiru attributes his longevity in office to regular consultation with the residents and his ability to work closely with the leaders at higher levels of local government.
‘I have always held village meetings where the residents identify their priorities. We then agree on resolutions and I follow up with the relevant authorities to ensure they are implemented. Working together with other leaders has enabled us to improve service delivery in our village,’ he said.
Still going strong
Mr Mubiru says his new priority will be completing the construction of the LC1 offices, a project he initiated about 10 years ago but which has stalled due to funding constraints.
Similarly, Mr Jacob Senyanjja, another NRM diehard, was also re-elected after defeating the opposition National Unity Platform flag bearer for LC1 chairperson of Kizzi Village, Kalangala Town Council.
Mr Senyanjja has led the village since 2001, when he first snatched the seat from his brother. Since then, he has continued to secure re-election unopposed until the 2026 elections, when two contenders showed upin the race.
‘I have made it easy for the residents to access the services of the LC1 chairperson’s office. I believe that is why they continue to entrust me with leadership,’ he explains.
Mr Lwembaawo Sserwanga Kaweesa has also served as the village chairperson of Nabweru North 1 Cell for the past 40 years after he assumed office in 1986.
During the recent LC1 elections, he collected 587 votes, beating three other contenders, with each getting only one vote each.
He names fighting insecurity in Nansana among the achievements that have kept him in power, and says the area was one of the darkest spots in the country but today, the narrative has changed.
In Mityana District, Mzee Emanuel Ssemambo, 80, was re-elected chairperson of Nabbale Village to extend one of the longest-serving tenures of any village leader in the district.
For more than 40 years, Mr Ssemambo has been at the centre of village leadership and in last week’s polls, he trounced three contenders.
Mr Ssemambo says his servant leadership, being honest and result oriented have endeared his people to him. ‘This victory is not mine alone, but belongs to every resident who believes in unity, service and the continued development of our village,’ he says. Mr Dauson Kateremo, through protecting the newly elected Busang A Village in Magogo Sub-county, Kamuli District, has been the chairman since the inception of the LC1 leadership.
For his long service, Mr Kateremo got 175 votes to defeat the youthful opponent who secured only 5 votes in the just-concluded elections.
Mr Kateremo’s survival in leadership was attributed to humility and transparency in leadership.
‘Mr Kateremo gives everyone respect in the village besides handling cases in a transparent way, so the residents maintain him in this office at every election,’ Mr Ali Mwagale, his son, says.
In Kisima I Village, Jinja South Division in Jinja City, the veteran LC1 chairperson, Mr Watmon Okidi, also retained his seat, extending a leadership tenure that began in 1986.
His latest victory makes him one of the longest-serving village leaders in the Busoga Sub-region and Uganda.
Mr Okidi said he sought re-election after the residents urged him to continue serving them because of his leadership record.
In Masindi, Mr Mansul Kawesa, 68, the LC1 chairperson of Central Cell in Masindi Municipality, says he first served for 10 years on the village executive committee before being elected LC1 chairperson, a position he has now held for 30 years, bringing his total service in local leadership to 40 years.
‘I have been in local leadership since President Museveni came to power in 1986. I served on the executive committee for 10 years before becoming LC1 chairperson, and I have now completed 30 years as chairperson of Central Cell,’ he says.
Mr Kawesa says the biggest challenge of leading an urban community is the constantly changing population. Despite the challenges, he says he has enjoyed the support of residents because he has maintained good working relationships with them.
‘I have decided that I will retire from leadership when President Museveni retires from the presidency,’ Mr Kawesa says.
Mr Francis Biryetega, 57, the LC1 chairperson of Katama Cell in Masindi Municipality, has led his village since 1987.
‘After my election in 1987, I underwent one year of Local Defence Unit training at Kigulya in Masindi. After completing the training, I was issued with a firearm and 60 rounds of ammunition to help protect the community. I carried that responsibility for seven years because security was still fragile,’ Mr Biryetega says.
He says today’s challenges are different, with many residents showing little interest in community activities.
‘People elect leaders but rarely attend meetings or participate in development programmes. Without community participation, it becomes difficult to implement good ideas,’ he warns.
Mr Alinde Malidard, the LC1 chairperson of Kitonya Village in Kibaale District, says he has served his community for 25 years and has now secured another five-year term.
He attributes his continued electoral success to fairness, transparency and impartiality while resolving disputes.
‘My transparency and fairness in handling community conflicts have earned people’s trust. That is why they continue to re-elect me,’ he says.
Ms Ben Katabarwa, the LC1 chairperson of Mabaale North Cell in Mabaale Town Council, Kagadi District, has spent 13 years in local leadership.
She says she had planned to retire from politics but was persuaded by residents to seek another term.
‘I wanted to leave local politics, but the people told me I was still capable of leading them. That is how I retained the seat unopposed for a third term,’ she says.
Mr John Baptist Kisembo, who has chaired Namilyango Cell in Kagadi Town Council for 30 years, says development has been the foundation of his leadership.
‘When I became chairperson, the village had only six related families. I encouraged landowners to sell plots to attract new settlers and promote development,’ he says.
Mr Kisembo says he has helped residents negotiate with financial institutions to prevent the auction of property when borrowers face financial difficulties.
‘The greatest reward I receive from the community is their trust. I don’t charge people for using the village stamp.
Instead, I encourage them to invest in poultry, piggery and other income- generating activities that improve household livelihoods,’ he says.
Mr Charles Bakanturaki, the chairman of Njeru Cell, Rwentuuha Town Council, Bushenyi District, has been village chairperson for 20 years.
‘For me to succeed in 20 years of leadership as chairman LC1, I first created a strong relationship with the community, and I asked them to use me as a leader and whoever would bring his complaint, I would solve it without having sides or being corrupt,’ he says.
Longevity strategy
Mr Juma Mrisho, 70, the chairperson of Kihindi Cell in Kakoba Ward, South Division in Mbarara City, who has spent 30 years serving as chairperson, attributes it to a good working relationship with residents.
Mr Francis Basiime, 63, the chairperson of Kiswahili Cell, Kakoba Ward, Mbarara City South, who has been the chairperson for 20 years, says his closeness to the people has enabled him to keep his seat.
Mr Alex Oyer, the incumbent LC1 chairperson for Awindiri Cell, Onzivu Ward in Arua City, has now served for 15 years as LC1 chairperson of the Cell.
Mr Oyer says: ‘One of the issues that we still want to address is insecurity where theft cases and burglaries, including snatching of people’s phones and bags, is common in our Cell/Ward,’ he says. In order to curtail this, he says there is a need to include youth in skill projects.
He says there is also a need to include women in government programmes so that they do not depend on loans, which, he says, have caused family problems.
Meanwhile, Mr Ratib Kiayinga, another long-serving chairperson of Enyau Cell, Kenya Ward, Arua City, also won the race again. He is usually referred to as the ‘Museveni’ of the Cell.
He has been the leader of the cell since 2001. He says he needs to focus on economic empowerment of the youth and women in the cell because they form the majority of the population.
Mr Charles Bisati, 75, who is among the Fronasa agents and a historical member of the Uganda Patriotic Movement (UPM) is also one of the longest-serving LC1 chairmen in Kabale District.
Mr Bisati served as the LC1 vice chairperson for Kanyakiriro cell, Nyabikoni Ward in Kabale Municipality in 1990, and was elected as the LC1 chairman for the same village in 1996, and has served to date.
Justification ‘Being closer to the people in all situations, resolving domestic violence and family disagreements without any bias, being a consistent supporter of the NRM party and living an exemplary lifestyle has kept me closer to the voters thus winning every election,’ Mr Bisati who is a father of six children and grandfather to eight children, says.
In Tororo, Mr Michael Ekeya retained his seat as the LCI chairperson of Angorom ‘B’ Cell in Osukuru town, a seat he has been holding for the last 20 years.
‘I had no interest to contest but my people requested me to represent them as I groom someone to take over from me’ he says.
In Soroti, Independent candidate Emmanuel Ogaram, who has been serving as LC1 for more than 20 years, won Cell II with 87 votes against Mr Julius Elweru Otija’s 81 votes.
The result sparked protests and deployment of police, army and RCC officials over allegations of voter ferrying, which Mr Ogaram denied.
Mr Otija rejected the outcome and plans to petition. But in Apac Municipality, Ms Imat Mary Okello Ojudu, the iron lady of Biacara Street Cell in Central Ward, hung up her chairperson hat after four decades of unwavering service.
Elected in 1986, soon after the NRM government took power, Ms Ojudu led with a firm but gentle hand, resolving disputes, mobilising communities, and championing development.
But after 40 years, the time has come to pass on the torch. ‘I wanted to give opportunity to the young blood,’ she says.