Ssekikubo Declares Independent Bid as Battle for Lwemiyaga Heats Up
Sembabule, Uganda — The political temperatures in Lwemiyaga County are once again on the rise as veteran legislator Theodore Ssekikubo launches his independent campaign, setting the stage for a fierce rematch against Gen. Emmanuel Rwashande in the upcoming parliamentary election.
The two men — one a seasoned politician and the other a former military officer — last clashed during the NRM party primaries in July, an encounter that turned violent, leaving one person dead and several others injured after security forces fired teargas and live bullets to quell chaos.
Observers now warn that the real battle for Lwemiyaga is just beginning.
On Thursday, Ssekikubo, known for his fiery rhetoric and defiant political style, was nominated as an independent candidate, choosing a chair as his campaign symbol after losing the NRM flag to Gen. Rwashande.
Appearing at the nomination centre in Sembabule, a confident Ssekikubo waved to cheering supporters who chanted his name, vowing to defend his seat and restore calm to the county’s turbulent politics.
“Lwemiyaga must never again experience the kind of violence we saw before. This election must be about ideas, not intimidation,” Ssekikubo said. “Our goal is to ensure that the rule of law governs elections in this constituency.”
Ssekikubo, who has represented Lwemiyaga since 2001, has built a reputation as both a reformist voice within the ruling NRM and one of its most outspoken internal critics. His decision to go independent has once again placed him at odds with the party establishment.
Meanwhile, Gen. Rwashande — the man who edged out Ssekikubo in the party primaries — continues to consolidate his support among NRM loyalists. Over the weekend, he graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Nkumba University, a development his supporters say silences critics who questioned his academic credentials.
For many residents of Lwemiyaga, however, the contest is about more than political allegiance. It represents a referendum on Ssekikubo’s legacy as a champion of fairness and justice in a district long known for political intrigue and factional divisions.
As the campaign season unfolds, all eyes will be on Sembabule — a district that has rarely known calm during election time — to see whether this year’s race will finally be fought with ballots, not batons.
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