Lukwago, the opposition leaning independent candidate was addressing Journalists after being declared winner of the Kampala mayoral elections.

“I have not defeated Sematimba but the State, I know Mr. Museveni is not pleased with this but he [Museveni] has to accept because people of Kampala have spoken”, Lukwago noted.

He added: “President Museveni should take note, whether he likes it or not, that I am the mayor elected by the people of Kampala”.

The new mayor polled 229,325 votes or 64.41%.beating the ruling party sponsored pastor turned politician Peter Sematimba who got 119,015 (33.43%).

Other Candidates Micheal Mabikke of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) came third with 4,092 votes (1.15%), followed by Francis Babu who got 2,059 votes (0.58%) and Sandra Ngabo with 1,035 votes (0.29%).

Sematimba yesterday before results were announced said if he lost, he will return to business and “make money”.

40 year old Lukwago a lawyer by profession has been Kampala Central mayor before contesting for the second coveted elected post after the one of Presidency in Uganda.

Lukwago has promised to work with authorities to change the state of city.
He will however have to work with the newly created post of Executive Director of the City who is charged with daily running of the city business. Political analysists says this post will shrink the Mayor’s powers.

“Our city is rotten, we have to work around the clock to develop this city,” Lukwago said after being declared winner by the returning officer, Molly Mutazindwa, at about 5:20am (Tuesday) after a night-long tallying exercise held at the UMA Conference Hall in Lugogo.

The newly elected mayor has a mountain to climb if he is to sort out Kampala’s poorly developed infrastructure filled with road pot holes, traffic congestion, poor urban planning and rampant corruption that has characterized Kampala city’s leadership.

There was massive deployment of the army and police along city streets as people of Kampala went to vote. The voters however turned up in low numbers to cast their votes. A day preceding the Election Day, Uganda’s four term office President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni promised to deal with “crooks” wanting to interrupt the mayoral elections.

“Kampala is for the people of Uganda turn up and vote…we have security that is ready to deal with crooks,” President Museveni assured Kampala residents on eve of polling day in a telecast State address.

There were minimal interruptions in the polling exercise but the voting was halted for some minutes towards mid-day as the heavens opened pouring rain in most parts of Kampala.

Celebrations started as soon as partial results were announced from different polling stations as Lukwago emerged winner from various polling centers defeating his closest rivals Peter Sematimba (National Resistance Movement) and Micheal Mabikke (Social Democratic Party) from their own backyards (their polling stations).

“Lukwago is a lawyer for a common man, that’s why I voted for him unlike others who are class high,” 24 year old Boda boda cyclist Mukasa Ronald said from Wandegeya.

Although the polls have been relatively peaceful, over 20 people claimed to be supporters of winner Lukwago have been arrested in what the police claim were aiming at voting violence.

Kampala, the capital city of Uganda, is the largest urban settlement in Uganda. It lies on a plateau, spread over more than twenty rolling hills. With an altitude of 1180m above sea level, Kampala has a pleasant weather, with annual temperatures averaging 17 degrees (minimum) and 21 degrees (maximum) Celsius. It has a population of two million people.

Kampala grew up around a port constructed by Frederick Lugard in 1890 for the British East Africa Company. In 1890, Kampala was declared the headquarters of Uganda's colonial administration. The city is divided into five boroughs that oversee local planning: Kampala Central, Kawempe Division, Makindye Division, Nakawa Division and Lubaga Division.

The main Features of Kampala are main campus of Makerere University, one of East and Central Africa's premier institutes of higher learning, can be found in the Makerere Hill area of the City. Kampala is also home to the headquarters of the East African Development Bank, located on Nakasero Hill.ther features of the city include the Uganda Museum, Ugandan National Theatre, Nakasero Market and St. Balikuddembe Market (formerly Owino Market).

Kampala is also known for its nightlife, which includes several casinos, notably Casino Simba in the Garden City shopping center, Kampala Casino and Mayfair Casino. Entebbe International Airport is located at Entebbe, 35 miles (56 km) away, while Port Bell on the shores of Lake Victoria is 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) away.