By Aggrey Twesigye
Stanley Katembeya Tugume’s long pursuit of the Mbarara City mayoral seat has ended in another decisive defeat, marking the third time he has lost to the same rival, Robert Mugabe Kakyebezi.
Results announced in the early hours of Friday by Mbarara City Returning Officer Violet Atuhurra confirmed that Kakyebezi, flying the NRM flag, cruised to victory with 21,117 votes, leaving Katembeya this time contesting on the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) ticket far behind on 8,731 votes.
Other candidates barely made an impact. Independent Senate Agaba Twongirwe polled 2,756 votes, Mweteise Bintabara (ANT) managed 170, while Mark Itogoro Nyabiheemu, a former NUP member who defected to NRM, garnered 533 votes.
The loss mirrors Katembeya’s previous failures against Kakyebezi. In 2016, when Mbarara was still a municipality, he lost with 8,125 votes to Kakyebezi’s 25,239. He returned in 2021 after Mbarara attained city status, only to fall again, polling 6,070 against Kakyebezi’s 23,465.
Despite the setback, Katembeya struck a defiant tone, insisting his political journey was not over.
Meanwhile, the NRM tightened its grip on Mbarara City, sweeping all City Council positions. Bonny Tashobya Karusya won in City South, Godfrey Baryomunsi triumphed in City North, while Aunich Saaba and Malina Salima secured the North and South Division woman councillor seats respectively.
For Katembeya, however, the verdict is painfully familiar: third race, same rival, same outcome.
