Jinja mayor Kasolo nominated as independent after missing NUP ticket

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Jinja city mayor Peter Alton Kasolo has officially been nominated to contest for a second term as an independent candidate after being denied the National Unity Platform (NUP) flag.

Kasolo, who has been serving as the city’s first directly elected mayor under the NUP banner, broke ranks with the party after its electoral commission awarded the 2026 mayoral ticket to Kirunda Mubarak, a former Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) stalwart who has recently shifted allegiance to NUP.

Flavia Nakasi, the Jinja city returning officer guiding Jeff Bidindi to fill in the missing gaps on his nominations forms. (Photo by Doreen Musingo)

During the first day of the nominations at Jinja City Hall while speaking to New Vision Online after his nomination on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, Kasolo whose symbol is a radio, said NUP's decision would not deter him from seeking another term, insisting that his development record and service to the people of Jinja like fighting land grabbing, installing security street lights, garbage collection and lobbying for the redevelopment of the Source of Nile speak louder than party endorsements.

“My works for the people of Jinja are visible. I have fought land grabbing, improved roads, ensured better service delivery and redevelopment of the source of the Nile. The voters know who has stood with them, and that is why I will continue this journey as an independent,” Kasolo said.

The incumbent mayor, who rose to prominence as a radio personality before venturing into politics, argued that party loyalty should not overshadow competence and delivery.

NRM-leaning independent

His independent candidature now sets up a heated contest in the city, with others who have so far been nominated on the first day, including Jeff Bidindi and David Isabirye Musenze, who both lost the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party cards to Al Hajj Nagaya Abdulhafidh and Julius Zziwa.

Julius Kayira who was nominated on the NUP tickect for Jinja southern division councillor at the city. He pledged to revive the trade and toursim sector in Jinja city. (Photo by Doreen Musingo)

Jeff Bidindi, with the symbol of a clock and a second-time contestant, said he drives his mandate from the power of the people. He said that due to the NRM party’s negligence, where he lost out, he has decided to come as an independent.

“My priority is the replanning and revamping of Jinja city. Many mushrooming structures are unplanned, making the city disorganised. We have bad roads, expansion of hospital facilities like the children's hospital in Nalufenya to a national hospital after the city population has increased,” he said.

Bidindi said other plans include linking Jinja to Bukedi, Jinja to Mbulamti through lobbying for the construction of the Busoga southern bypass that also links to the Teso region and revamping of the Rippon pier that connects to Mwanza in Tanzania to boost trade.

Former Jinja district land board chairperson David Isabirye Musenze with the symbol of a chair bragged of helping over 20,000 people to get land titles during his tenure in office and has pledged to help needy people in areas of Jinja city north, which is at the mercy of land grabbers and some parts of Jinja city south like Kibugambata, Danida to get land titles at reasonable costs once voted into power.

Other issues he pledged to tackle are helping unemployed youth form groups to fight crime by lobbying for their training in hands-on skills and jobs.

Julius Zziwa, a former marine Police officer with the symbol of a ball, said he is a uniting factor who has shown interest in transforming the social economy of Jinja city and also helps fight garbage littering and collection.

“The city is full of garbage and so dusty. Even the surroundings around the city hall where we have been nominated are very dirty with a lot of garbage, my target is to revive the lost glory of Jinja, which was once referred to as the cleanest city in the country,” he said.

During the nomination, Fazira Kawuma, the Jinja city deputy mayor and also the councillor for persons with disabilities (PWDs), was nominated for the same post under the NRM card.

Flavia Nakasi, the Jinja city returning officer speaking to journalists after the nomination execrise at Jinja City Hall on day one of the exercise. (Photo by Doreen Musingo)

Saul Nsongabi of NUP, who was nominated for the workers' councillor at Jinja city, pledged to lobby for casual workers to get improved wages, working gear and job security, like getting appointments.

“When you move around most industries in Jinja city, a large number of workers lack protective gear to safeguard their health, while others are only paid peanuts. Apart from Parliament, in the city, we have silent bylaws that have failed to help our people, and my target is to revive them,” he said.

26 nominated

Flavia Nakasi, the returning officer for Jinja city, stated that a total of 26 individuals were nominated. This included four candidates for the city mayor's position and 22 candidates for city councillor roles from both the southern and northern divisions of Jinja.

She said they include PWDs, older persons, youths and directly elected councillors. She said each candidate was required to come with a proposer and a seconder.