Nasubo Flourence declares candidacy vows to unseat Hon Manjeri Kyebakutika.

By Kenneth Wamatoyi 

As Uganda’s 2026 General Elections approach, the race for Jinja City Woman MP is heating up. Florence Nasubo, a National Unity Platform (NUP) aspirant, has officially declared her candidacy, aiming to unseat the incumbent MP, Manjeri Kyebakutika. The contest is expected to be competitive, with several candidates from various parties vying for the position.

Florence Nasubo revealed that she has initiated a consultative meeting under the theme "Resetting Jinja City Together Through Collaborative Efforts". She emphasized that, if elected, her leadership would focus on a “Triple T” program—Trade, Transport, and Tourism—to revitalize the city.

In her address at the Nup headquarters Jinja city in the afternoon, Nasubo criticized the current state of infrastructure in Jinja. She recalled that in the early 1990s, Jinja had a more efficient transport system, which she claims has since deteriorated. She blamed the current MP, Manjeri Kyebakutika, for failing to improve roads and advocate effectively for the city’s development.

Nasubo also highlighted the underutilization of Kimaka Airstrip, which she said once operated daily flights to Kisumu and Entebbe. “Kimaka used to have two flights daily, one to Kisumu and another to Entebbe, but today we no longer see them,” she remarked.

She further criticized the incumbent for neglecting tourism infrastructure, citing poor road access to key attractions like Murchison Falls and Itanda Falls. “Roads connecting important sites such as Budondo are in terrible condition. The MP has not lobbied for improvements, and this has contributed to youth unemployment and widespread poverty in our communities,” she stated.

Nasubo shared that her team faced challenges earlier that day when police blocked access to Murchison Hotel, where they had organized their meeting. According to the hotel’s marketing manager, the police claimed that NUP members would cause chaos and property damage. As a result, the meeting was relocated to the NUP headquarters in Jinja City.

Banalya John, a member of the People Power Front movement, expressed his support for Nasuba at the meeting. “I joined the consultative session to promote solidarity and end dictatorship in Uganda. Everyone has a vision and plan—Jinja has the potential to match world-class cities if we have visionary leaders like Nasubo,” he said. He encouraged the youth to be politically active and not be intimidated.

Nasubo, who is currently studying Public Health and Psychology at UOP University, also holds a diploma in Tourism and Hospitality. She hails from Buwenda Parish in Jinja City and promised to be "the darling of Jinja" if elected

 however in response with what happens when not given NUP ticket , Nasubo says when NUP denies her the card , " I will step down when in transparency but when not clear, i will contest for independent when denied the Nup card but iam sure , NUP is giving me the ticket" she said. 

Buuba Habib Junior, NUP spokesperson for Jinja City, stated that the party welcomes all aspirants and that democracy begins with NUP.

 Nakabugo Hadija, from the organizing committee, confirmed that they had initially booked Murchison Hotel for the meeting but were forced to cancel due to threats and intimidation. “We had invited people from various political affiliations for peaceful discussions,” she added.

Several community members expressed dissatisfaction with the current MP. “She’s done nothing for us. All she does is print banners. We want a leader who debates, lobbies, and brings development,” one resident said.

Jinja City’s political landscape is gaining momentum, with notable NUP aspirants such as Lwasasula Sarah, incumbent Manjeri Kyebakutika, and now Florence Nasuba Balungi. Candidates from other parties—including NRM, FDC, and DP—are also expected to join the race.