Jinja FDC fronts new candidate after incumbent defects to NUP

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The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has replaced defected incumbent Ayub Wabika with Jolly Lukooya in the Jinja City Northern Division mayoral race after Wabika crossed to the National Unity Platform (NUP).

By Tuesday, September 9, 2025, at 2:00PM, 80 candidates had already been nominated for various positions in the division. The process, taking place at the former Bugembe Town Council headquarters, which now serves as the division offices, had drawn two mayoral contenders from NUP and FDC.

Ayub Wabika, the incumbent Jinja city northern division mayor who defected from FDC to NUP as its flag bearer. (Photo by Jackie Nambogga)

Wabika was nominated at around 3:00PM on Monday, September 8, with Lukooya’s nomination coming later at 10:00PM.

The rest of the candidates were contesting for council seats under special interest groups, as well as direct positions for women and men.

Jinja city returning officer Flavia Nakasi was compelled to halt the exercise on Monday after it stretched late into the evening.

Jinja city returning offcer Flavia Nakasi declaring Jolly Lukooya to vie in the Jinja city northern division mayoral race on the FDC ticket. (Photo by Jackie Nambogga)

“We are supposed to work up to 5:00 pm, which is our official time, but we have gone up to 10:00 pm. Since the exercise is running until Wednesday, let us agree to end it here and begin with you tomorrow,” she advised.

At that point, 16 aspirants were still waiting to be nominated, but they agreed with Nakasi’s guidance and returned on Tuesday to complete the process.

At least 60 candidates were nominated on the first day, while 20 had been cleared by 2:00PM on Tuesday. Among them was Adrine Anna Talimwenda, a person with disabilities (PWD).

Talimwenda defied the odds to be nominated as a direct woman councillor for Wanyange Ward.

Nasasira declaring Adrine Anna Tibamwenda, as a direct woman councilor for Wanyange ward in Jinja city northern division. (Photo by Jackie Nambogga)

She urged her colleagues not to pity themselves but to challenge able-bodied contenders.

“I am a crippled woman who can’t walk, but my brain is very active, and I want to be the voice of my people by working on the impassable roads in our area,” she said.

Talimwenda, who was declared by Jinja city assistant returning officer Rachael Nasasira, is contesting on the NUP ticket.