JohnMary Sebufu being sworn in as the new KCCA Council Speaker
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I The newly sworn-in Kampala Lord Mayor, Ronald Nsubuga Balimwezo, on Wednesday refused to sit in the official mayoral chair at City Hall, declaring that the nearly 50-year-old seat had become too outdated for the office and should be replaced immediately by the Kampala Capital City Authority.
Balimwezo made the symbolic protest moments after taking oath as Lord Mayor during a colourful ceremony held at City Hall in Kampala, where new political leaders of the capital were officially ushered into office.
Instead of occupying the traditional mayoral chair, Balimwezo stood beside it and told guests and councillors that the old furniture represented the neglect that has characterized City Hall for years.
“The chair is almost 50 years old. It has served its time and should be retired officially,” Balimwezo said shortly after his swearing-in ceremony.
The Lord Mayor added that Kampala residents deserve modern and dignified public institutions that reflect the image of a growing capital city.
Sources within City Hall said the chair has been used by several former Kampala mayors dating back decades and has remained part of the ceremonial office furniture despite visible signs of aging.
Balimwezo’s gesture immediately became one of the most talked-about moments of the day, with some councillors interpreting it as a broader statement about the need to reform and modernize KCCA’s administration and working environment.
The event also marked the election and swearing-in of a new Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the KCCA Council following tightly contested council votes dominated by members of the opposition National Unity Platform.
JohnMary Sebuwufu was elected Speaker of the KCCA Council after narrowly defeating independent candidate Ali Kalule in a tense vote presided over by Chief Magistrate Ritah Neumbe Kidasa.
Sebuwufu secured 18 votes against Kalule’s 16 in a closely fought secret ballot, while one vote was declared invalid.
The newly elected Speaker replaces former KCCA Speaker Zahara Luyirika, who recently crossed to Parliament after winning the Makindye West parliamentary seat.
The council proceedings briefly descended into disagreement before voting commenced after the presiding magistrate directed councillors to put away their mobile phones during the election process.
The directive immediately sparked resistance from several councillors, particularly those aligned to NUP, who argued that the order had no legal basis.
Nakawa II councillor Godfrey Luyombya openly challenged the instruction.
“In the digital age, you can’t tell people to put their phones away. It is improper and does not follow any legal procedure,” Luyombya argued during the heated exchange.
Following consultations, a compromise was reached requiring councillors to place their phones aside in visible areas instead of completely surrendering them, restoring calm inside the chamber.
In another dramatic twist, Luyombya — despite previously losing to Sebuwufu during NUP internal primaries — rose to nominate him for the speakership position, a move that drew applause from sections of the chamber.
Another opposition councillor seconded the nomination before both Sebuwufu and Kalule appeared before councillors to formally accept nomination and present short speeches outlining their vision for the council.
Voting was later conducted through a secret ballot system, with councillors writing names of preferred candidates individually as they were called forward.
The tallying process itself created fresh suspense after five ballots were initially flagged for spelling mistakes and incomplete candidate names.
However, electoral officials reviewed the ballots and ruled that voter intention was sufficiently clear in four of the disputed votes, reducing the number of invalid ballots to only one.
Moments after the final declaration, jubilant NUP councillors lifted Sebuwufu shoulder-high in celebration as supporters chanted victory songs inside City Hall.
The election marked a remarkable political comeback for Sebuwufu, who only months ago faced legal troubles after being remanded to Luzira Prison on charges of inciting violence.
He was granted bail on March 24, 2026 and later sworn in earlier this week as Nakawa West Lord Councillor for the 2026–2031 term.
Meanwhile, councillors also elected a new Deputy Speaker to complete the leadership structure expected to steer the affairs of Kampala’s council over the next five years.
The day’s events reflected both the growing political influence of the opposition in Kampala and mounting calls for institutional reforms within City Hall, symbolized by Balimwezo’s refusal to occupy what he described as an outdated relic of the capital’s past.
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