Beatrice Mao Confident Ahead of Kampala Mayoral Polls, Vows Inclusive Leadership

As the Local Government Council elections scheduled for Thursday, 22 January are just a day away, Democratic Party (DP) flag bearer for the Kampala Lord Mayoral race, Beatrice Nambi Mao, has expressed confidence in her preparations and readiness to lead the capital city, despite what she describes as a tough and highly competitive contest. Speaking in an exclusive interview with NBS Television on Tuesday, Nambi said she remains undeterred by the male-dominated nature of the race and is confident that her long-standing engagement with communities across Kampala will translate into victory. "I know it's tough, and I've often been discouraged that I cannot manage the men in the race. Nonetheless, I've been on the ground for the past five years and have intensified my campaigns over the last two months. I am very sure that I've got this," she said. Nambi evealed that her campaign team has finalised critical logistical preparations, particularly the deployment of polling agents across the city. According to her, each polling station will have at least two agents to safeguard the vote. Follow us on WhatsApp | LinkedIn for the latest headlines "We were given time to prepare. We were told that each polling station is to have at least two agents, and I have to prepare over 5,000. On Wednesday, I shall train them and have them sign their contracts. My team is ready for this, and we are not going to allow rigging," she said. Nambi, who is the wife of DP president and Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs Norbert Mao, was officially endorsed by the party following the withdrawal of John Bosco Kamoga from the race. She says her candidacy represents a new chapter for Kampala's leadership--one anchored in discipline, cooperation, and dialogue. Nambi pledged to end the political divisions and confrontations that have long characterised City Hall, arguing that Kampala, which she described as Uganda's "living room," requires unity-driven governance grounded in responsibility and mutual respect. Drawing on her over a decade of experience supporting local artisans and promoting East African products internationally, Nambi said her leadership would be rooted in grassroots empowerment and inclusive economic growth. Her manifesto prioritises improving public transport, enhancing road construction and connectivity, and ensuring that all developments adhere to approved construction plans. She further proposes abolishing property taxes and instead taxing idle city land to promote optimal land use and orderly urban development. Nambi also outlined plans to expand digitisation and e-governance, establish innovation hubs, open up public spaces, support cottage industries, skill youth, and implement universal medicare. Other key pledges include reducing noise pollution, institutionalising the informal economy, expanding urban agriculture, boosting tourism, and significantly improving water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) as well as waste-management systems. The 2026 race marks Nambi's second attempt at the Kampala Lord Mayoral seat. In the 2021 general elections, she was disqualified by the Electoral Commission over voter registration issues. She now returns to the race, saying she has "a clean slate and readiness to lead." She faces stiff competition from incumbent Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago of the People's Front for Freedom (PFF), who is seeking a fourth consecutive term after first assuming office in 2011. Other contenders include Eng. Ronald Balimwezo (NUP), Ibrahim Kasozi (FDC), former Kampala Woman MP Nabilah Naggayi Sempala (Independent), Moses Kizito Nsubuga (NRM), among others. In the previous election, Lukwago won decisively with 194,592 votes, far ahead of his closest challenger, Nabilah Naggayi Sempala, who garnered 60,082 votes. As Kampala voters head to the polls, Nambi says she is confident that her message of unity, discipline, and inclusive development will resonate with the electorate.