Erias Lukwago has been sworn in for the third term as the Kampala Lord Mayor. Lukwago was sworn in by Buganda Road Court Chief Magistrate Mariam Akello Ayo at Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) City Hall.
The Forum for Democratic Change member was re-elected to his third term, beating 10 others in the race and more than tripling the closest challenger’s votes. Lukwago polled 194,592 votes while his closest rival and National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate Nabilah Naggayi Sempala garnered only 60,082 votes.
“It’s the day to formally renew our social contract and open a new chapter in our journey at City Hall. We beseech for the Almighty’s blessings for the day’s program and activities at the Lord Mayor’s Gardens and always guide us in the execution of the enormous tasks ahead,” he said before swearing in.
He has in the past been a member of the Democratic Party in Uganda, although in the 2011 elections he ran as an independent. On 28th July 2020, he officially joined the largest opposition party, Forum for Democratic Change (FDC).
Lukwago was born in Kabungo Masaka district (now Kalungu district) on 11th May 1970 to Muhhamoud Mirundi and Salimanti Nakayaga. Lukwago is reported to have more than twenty siblings. Lukwago attended Makerere University between 1995 until 1997, graduating with a Bachelor of Laws degree. He went on to obtain a Diploma in Legal Practice from the Law Development Center in 1998. He also holds a Certificate in Advocacy Skills from the International Law Institute.
Since 1998, Lukwago has worked as the managing partner in the offices of Lukwago and Co. Advocates, a Kampala law firm that specializes in constitutional law and human rights law. In 2005, he was elected to the Ugandan Parliament, on the Democratic Party ticket, representing the Central Kampala Constituency. While in parliament, he served on the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee and on the Local Government Accounts Committee.
He resigned from Parliament in 2011 and was elected Lord Mayor of the City of Kampala. Lukwago has in the past served as national legal adviser to the Democratic Party in Uganda, and as Shadow Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs. On 20 May 2011, Lukwago was sworn in as Lord Mayor of Kampala for a five-year term. In 2016 he was sworn in for his second term.
