Nansana showdown: Who will win the NUP ticket?

• The 2026 general elections are stirring excitement, and nowhere is the political tension more palpable than in Nansana Municipality, Uganda’s most voter-rich constituency.
• Incumbent Wakayima Musoke, once NUP’s top vote-winner, appears to be fading from relevance due to public disapproval and controversy.

As the excitement for the 2026 general elections builds, many regions are starting to identify their potential representatives for the upcoming year. One such area is Nansana Municipality at the Parliamentary level.

It’s important to highlight that this constituency holds the largest number of voters in Wakiso district. And indeed, the region boasts an impressive lineup of candidates for Parliament.

The majority of these candidates are from the National Unity Platform (NUP).

Currently, Hon Wakayima Musoke represents this constituency, having received over 100,000 votes in the last election, making him the most voted MP within NUP, as his nearest rival didn’t even approach the 30,000 vote mark.

However, Wakayima Musoke has become rather unpopular, not just within his constituency but also within NUP and Parliament.

His constituents have expressed their embarrassment over an incident where he allegedly farted in Parliament, leading to his expulsion by the Speaker.

Wakayima has not even collected nomination forms from his party, indicating that he may run as an independent, switch to a different party, or possibly resign from his position.

In Nansana, he has been noticeably absent, which has turned public opinion against him. Additionally, he does not have any significant achievements, let alone any noteworthy debates in Parliament.

In contrast, Sserunkuma John Bosco, known as Kaana Kambata, has been gaining a strong foothold in the area. The young politician currently serves as a councillor for Nansana West, a position he secured despite being imprisoned during the previous election.

Reports on the ground suggest that Kaana Kambata may be the most underestimated candidate in this race yet possesses considerable influence.

He is well-remembered for assisting those evicted from the Lubigi wetland, guiding them door-to-door to seek help—a responsibility that fell to MP Wakayima Musoke.

Moreover, Sserunkuma has established an organization aimed at supporting youths who have been tortured by security forces for political reasons.

His qualifications also include advocacy for Ugandans working abroad in the Middle East. At one point, amidst alarming instances of deaths and organ harvesting in countries like Saudi Arabia, UAE, Jordan, and Kuwait, he rallied some local youths to protest at the Foreign Labor office and various embassies, resulting in NUP and government intervention to facilitate the return of some stranded individuals.

Kaana Kambata also played a significant role during the Karamoja Mabaati theft scandal, which led to his severe beating, arrest, and the confiscation of his vehicle. Information from Nansana indicates that he might surprise many by becoming one of the youngest MPs.

However, as we noted, there is a strong lineup in this contest; popular journalist Zambaali Bulasio Mukasa is also aiming to enter the political arena. Zambaali is the most recognized figure in this race and hopes to leverage his fame to secure a seat in the 12th Parliament.

Having previously worked with CBS FM, NTV, Bukedde TV, and NBS TV, Zambali made the choice to leave his job to run for Parliament. Nonetheless, some critics have reproached him for allegedly putting undue pressure on the party by claiming he was already promised a nomination card. This undermines the party’s procedure for selecting potential candidates. Additionally, they criticize him for not having a significant record in his media career of advocating for marginalized voices.

Moreover, it has been noted that due to the significant letdown from past journalists in Parliament like Kazibwe Bashir, many fear that Zambaali may end up being just as disappointing. They argue that he lacks the innate qualities of a politician.

The final contender in this group is musician Ibrahim Mayanja, known as Big Eye StarBoss, who has also shown interest in the role. Despite his popularity, many do not consider him a viable candidate.

A lot of individuals view him as a comedian lacking the natural leadership skills. Furthermore, he has been a staunch supporter of the NRM in the past. Although he has developed a close association with Bobi Wine this time, he doesn’t hold a strong position in the constituency or within the party’s hierarchy.

It remains uncertain who will ultimately receive the official party nomination, but all eyes are currently watching.