By Nanteza Ruth Walusimbi
JINJA
Elections for Speakership race in Jinja Northern Division on Friday 22nd May 2026 flopped after failure by candidates to get the required percentage as stipulated by the law.
The race had four candidates namely Hilary Besweli (NRM) who got 6 votes, Mpagi (FDC) with 4 votes, Mukopi Sam Kakyama (Independent) with 11 votes and Ssemuwemba Mansor (NUP) with 12 votes.
The Chief Magistrate for the Jinja Magisterial Area, Sheila Fiona Angura who presided over the exercise in her guidance said that although Ssemuwemba Mansor had the highest number of votes, he could not be announced speaker because according to the law it requires a candidate to secure a percentage of over 50 which did not happen as Semuwemba only had a margin of one vote over Mukopi who had secured 11 votes out of the 33 councilors that voted.
The total votes were 33 and the percentage required of over 50 percent would have been 16.5 so a candidate to win he had to secure at least 17 votes. Legally Ssemuwemba was short of majority which explains the rerun. The council now awaits further communication from the Electoral Commission.
While speaking to this publication, the chairperson Jinja Northern Division Ayub Wabika said he would heed to the law.
He called for team work from the councilors during this term of office and improved service delivery in Health, Education and Works among others.
