Dr. Abed Bwanika has been nominated to contest for the Kimanya-Kabonera MP seat by the Democratic Front for the 2026 elections.
Addressing supporters at Patel Shamji Hotel in Masaka, Bwanika expressed confidence in his re-election, highlighting his legislative achievements, including presenting a private member’s bill and improving agriculture through initiatives like distributing coffee seedlings to farmers.
These efforts, he claimed, have boosted local economic conditions by creating jobs and supporting research.
Bwanika, accompanied by DF party chairman Samuel Lubega Mukaaku, praised the DF as a timely addition to Uganda’s political landscape, emphasizing its appeal to experienced leaders.
He urged supporters to back DF candidates in the upcoming elections. The party’s electoral commission chairperson, Henry Lubowa, noted that DF has nominated 131 candidates, including nine parliamentary aspirants from Greater Masaka, covering areas like Masaka City, Lwengo, Kalungu, Kyotera, Bukomansimbi, Lyantonde, Sembabule, and Rakai.
Bwanika’s political journey includes running as an independent presidential candidate in 2006, finishing fourth with 0.95% of the vote, and later joining the National Unity Platform (NUP) in 2020 to win the Kimanya-Kabonera seat in 2021 with 15,341 votes.
His departure from NUP in 2025 stemmed from disagreements with the party’s leadership, particularly over ideological differences and what he called “immature politics.”
He has since aligned with Mathias Mpuuga’s Democratic Front, a rebranded offshoot of the Green Partisan Party, positioning himself as a seasoned politician distancing himself from NUP’s approach under Robert Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine).
Bwanika faces significant competition in 2026. Four candidates—Faizo Seruwagi (NRM/PLU), Jude Mbabali (NUP), and Robert Asiimwe (NRM)—are challenging him for the Kimanya-Kabonera seat.
Political analysts suggest Bwanika’s experience and local initiatives give him an edge, but his fallout with NUP and the competitive field could make the race contentious.
