Katabi Town Council Mayor Ronald Kalema Basamulekere has announced that he will seek re-election as an independent candidate after the National Unity Platform (NUP) denied him the party ticket.
Kalema, who won the seat in 2021 under the NUP banner, said he was shocked by the decision to drop him despite his loyalty and mobilization record for the party.
The NUP committee instead awarded its flag to Charles Kalema, setting up a competitive contest that also includes former journalist George William Kakooza, Democratic Party’s Paul Nsubuga, and others.
“It’s hard to believe that even the councilors I mobilized for the party were given tickets, but I was not,” Kalema told journalists.
He stressed his central role in building NUP in Entebbe, adding, “I have been at the forefront of NUP mobilization, but I believe there was a reason they chose someone else. I will continue mobilizing as usual, but I’m deeply disappointed.”
Kalema dismissed claims that his close coordination with government entities cost him the ticket, branding them “stupid.”
He argued that leadership requires collaboration with different stakeholders.
“Those who understand leadership know there’s no way to run a public office without cooperating with other entities,” he said.
Despite the fallout, Kalema struck a confident tone about his re-election bid.
“The people of Katabi voted for me in 2021, and I believe they will vote for me again,” he declared.
His decision to run independently reflects a wider pattern in Ugandan politics, where candidates denied party endorsement often contest as independents while maintaining rhetorical loyalty to their former parties.
NUP’s vetting process has previously sparked controversy, with accusations of sidelining grassroots mobilizers in favor of new entrants.
As the election season gathers pace, Kalema’s defection from the party ticket sets the stage for a dynamic race in Katabi, testing whether incumbency and local support can outweigh the strength of party machinery.
