He alleged that despite investing substantial sums of money in his attempts to secure the NUP party flag in both the 2021 and 2026 elections, the party denied him the ticket on both occasions, forcing him to run as an independent candidate.
Former Nansana Municipality parliamentary aspirant Eng. Stephen Kaweesa has shifted his political ambitions to grassroots leadership after losing two parliamentary bids in National Unity Platform (NUP), securing nomination to contest for the Katooke B Village LC1 chairperson seat on the National Resistance Movement (NRM) ticket.
Kaweesa, who previously sought to represent Nansana Municipality in Parliament under NUP, said he decided to contest for village leadership after enduring costly political setbacks that left him heavily indebted.
He alleged that despite investing substantial sums of money in his attempts to secure the NUP party flag in both the 2021 and 2026 elections, the party denied him the ticket on both occasions, forcing him to run as an independent candidate.
According to Kaweesa, his failed political pursuits came at a significant financial cost.
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“I invested money in NUP right from 2021 and ended up losing several of my buildings because I could not pay back money lenders after losing both the party ticket and the election. I am now in debt. What started as sh1.1bn has doubled if I am to recover my property. Unfortunately, NUP continued showing that they had no interest in me,” Kaweesa said.
He further claimed that he paid sh620m to the party during the 2021 election cycle and sh1.1bn in 2026. He also alleged that he personally gave sh600m to NUP president Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, who, according to Kaweesa, later denied receiving the money.
The allegations have not been independently verified, and neither NUP nor Robert Kyagulanyi had responded to the claims at the time of publication.
Kaweesa said that NRM offered him a fresh political opportunity by nominating him to contest for the Katooke B Village chairperson seat without charging any fees.
He pledged to use the position to lobby for improved social services in the village, including access to clean water, electricity, better roads, public address systems, as well as community tents and chairs for public functions.
“I will ensure that my village has a public address system. I am a down-to-earth person who will always be with the people. I am confident my people will support me because I have never given them a hard time,” he said.
Kaweesa previously competed for the NUP parliamentary flag against former NBS Television news anchor Zambaali Bulasio Mukasa but lost in the party primaries. Zambaali later won the 2026 general election and is the current Member of Parliament for Nansana Municipality.
Kaweesa’s entry into the LC1 race reflects a growing trend of former parliamentary aspirants seeking elective positions at the local council level as Uganda prepares for the upcoming Local Council elections.
