Lord Mayor-elect Balimwezo promises technical solutions

New Kampala Lord Mayor-elect Ronald Balimwezo plans to leverage his engineering background to solve the city's persistent infrastructure, drainage and waste management challenges.

KAMPALA, Uganda — Ronald Balimwezo Nsubuga, a professional engineer newly elected as Kampala lord mayor, says he will use his technical expertise to address the chronic infrastructure failures that have long plagued the capital city.

Following his landslide victory in Thursday’s election, Balimwezo signaled a shift in the city’s leadership style, moving away from the legal and political focus of his predecessor toward an engineering-led approach to urban management.

Kampala has been requiring a leader with such character and qualities as I have, Balimwezo said. Because we have several challenges that range from poor garbage management to poor road infrastructure, I will be in the best position to tackle those challenges because I have a master’s degree in engineering.

The lord mayor-elect, representing the National Unity Platform, secured 141,220 votes, comfortably defeating Moses Kizito Nsubuga of the National Resistance Movement and the incumbent, Erias Lukwago.

Balimwezo identified the city’s poor drainage systems, deteriorating road networks and ineffective waste management as his immediate priorities. He pledged that residents would see tangible results from his technical interventions within his first 100 days in office.

Voters in Kampala expressed hope that Balimwezo’s background would resolve the historic gridlock between the lord mayor’s office and the technical wing of the Kampala Capital City Authority. While previous administrations were often defined by legal battles and political friction with the central government, Balimwezo’s supporters expect him to prioritize functional development.

He managed to contribute a lot and develop Nakawa when he was mayor, said Tonny Kasakya, a resident of Kisenyi. We expect him to come with the same vigor and spirit to develop Kampala City.

Other residents urged the engineer to work closely with the central government to ensure the funding necessary for large-scale infrastructure projects is released.

Balimwezo, who previously served as the mayor of Nakawa Division and a member of parliament, said his familiarity with the city’s mechanical and structural needs is the “new journey” Kampala requires to shine again.