The battle for the Democratic Party (DP) ticket for Kampala Lord Mayor in the 2026 elections has intensified, pitting John Bosco Kamoga, a long-time DP loyalist, against Beatrice Nambi Mao, wife of DP president and the minister of Justice Norbert Mao.
Kamoga, a self-described “party diehard,” has been a grassroots mobilizer for DP since his days in the Uganda Young Democrats (UYD).
In a telephone interview with Bbeg Media, Kamoga expressed frustration with the party’s electoral commission, accusing it of favouring Nambi despite his long-standing service.
He argues that his deep understanding of Kampala’s challenges—such as poor healthcare, waste management, road maintenance, and urban congestion—makes him the ideal candidate to challenge incumbent Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago.
However, he faces resistance from party insiders reportedly backing Nambi, which he claims undermines DP’s core values of truth and justice.
Nambi, a research assistant at DP and Mao’s wife, has also declared her candidacy, aiming to unseat Lukwago. She previously attempted to run in 2021 but was disqualified by the EC due to voter registration issues, which she claims have been resolved.
Nambi announced her candidacy at a Muslim Iftar dinner in March 2025, when she criticized Lukwago’s 15-year tenure for failing to attract foreign investment and address Kampala’s decay.
She has positioned herself as a candidate for change, emphasizing women’s leadership and her vision to transform Kampala into a city “everyone is proud of.”
Her campaign has gained visibility through high-profile events and reported support from Mao, raising concerns among some DP members about favoritism due to her ties to the party president.
Party dynamics
The DP’s candidate selection process involves a 25-member committee, with five delegates from each of Kampala’s five divisions, as outlined by DP Electoral Commission chairperson Kennedy Mutenyo. This committee will vote to determine the flag-bearer.
However, accusations of bias have emerged, with some party members, Julius Ddumba, alleging that Mao is influencing the process in favour of his wife.
This has sparked criticism that Nambi’s candidacy is driven more by her connection to Mao than her political merits, despite her active involvement in DP activities, including the 2017 “Togikwatako” campaign against constitutional amendments.
Kamoga, on the other hand, insists his long service to DP should earn him the ticket, arguing that Nambi’s relatively recent prominence in the party makes her a “newcomer.”
The outcome of the primaries will test DP’s democratic credentials and could impact its unity and prospects in Kampala’s competitive political landscape.
The Kampala Lord Mayor race is crowded, with candidates like Lukwago (PFF), Ronald Balimwezo (NUP), Nabilah Naggayi (FDC), and Moses Nsubuga Kizito (NRM) also vying for the seat. Lukwago, in office since 2011, remains a formidable incumbent, although critics like Nambi and Kamoga argue his leadership has failed to address key urban challenges.
The DP’s internal contest will be crucial, as the chosen candidate will face an uphill battle against Lukwago and others in a city with complex political dynamics.
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