Geoffrey Lutaaya
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I Microfinance State Minister Haruna Kyeyune Kasolo has dismissed allegations that he orchestrated the electoral defeat of former Kakuuto Member of Parliament Geoffrey Lutaaya, describing the claims as false and politically motivated.
Lutaaya, who lost his parliamentary seat in the just-concluded 2026 general elections, accused the minister of masterminding vote manipulation in Kakuuto constituency, Kyotera District. He alleged that he caught an Electoral Commission official ticking ballot papers in favour of his opponent and claimed the exercise was coordinated by Kasolo.
Kasolo, who also serves as the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Vice Chairperson for Buganda, firmly denied the accusations, insisting he had no role in the electoral process in Kakuuto.
“I was not in Kakuuto. I was busy in Kyotera. I did not hold any meeting in Kakuuto,” Kasolo said, rejecting claims that he influenced the outcome of the vote. The minister said attempts to link him to alleged irregularities were aimed at tarnishing his reputation following a hotly contested election.
Lutaaya, however, accused security agencies of interfering with the electoral process, alleging that his victory had been stolen. He claimed the presence and actions of security personnel intimidated voters and compromised the integrity of the polls, accusations that have become common in closely fought contests across the country.
The Kakuuto race was one of several contentious parliamentary contests in the greater Masaka sub-region, where opposition candidates reported delays in vote tallying and alleged irregularities. Electoral Commission officials have yet to publicly respond to Lutaaya’s specific claims.
The disputed outcome in Kakuuto came amid wider political shifts in the region, particularly involving former Leader of Opposition in Parliament Mathias Mpuuga, who also lost his Nyendo–Mukungwe seat. Mpuuga, now leader of the Democratic Front (DF), was defeated by National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate Lubowa Ssebina Gyaviira.
Mpuuga’s loss followed a prolonged fallout with NUP after he and three other parliamentary commissioners awarded themselves more than Shs1 billion as a service award. NUP accused the commissioners of illegally allocating public funds and demanded refunds, apologies, and resignations—demands Mpuuga rejected, eventually leading to his departure from the party.
His allies, including Busiro East MP Medard Lubega Ssegona and Kimanya–Kabonera’s Abed Bwanika, also fell out with NUP and later lost their seats to NUP-backed candidates. In Kimanya–Kabonera, NUP’s Patrick Kuteesa defeated Bwanika, while in Busiro East, Ssegona lost to NUP-leaning independent Emmanuel Magoola.
Despite the disputes, several winners welcomed their victories. Gyaviira described his win over Mpuuga as hard-earned, citing delays of up to two days before results were declared. Kuteesa thanked voters for entrusting him with leadership, while NUP’s Trace Nalubowa won the Masaka City Woman MP seat.
As complaints continue to emerge, Kasolo has maintained that electoral outcomes should be addressed through lawful channels, reiterating that he neither influenced voting in Kakuuto nor orchestrated Lutaaya’s defeat.
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