By Andrew Irumba
Rev. Willy Kintu Muhanga, an independent candidate, has been officially declared the winner of the Fort Portal City mayoral race after edging National Resistance Movement (NRM)’s flag bearer, Albert Aheebwa—popularly known as Omurasta Omu Bwaati—in a tightly contested poll.
According to the final results released by the Electoral Commission tally centre for Fort Portal City, Kintu Muhanga secured 11,801 votes, narrowly defeating Aheebwa Albert of the NRM, who polled 11,399 votes. Another independent contender, Kihunde Sylvia, trailed distantly with 224 votes.
The declaration followed the successful tallying of results from all 190 polling stations in the city, representing a 100 percent return rate. A total of 23,863 votes were cast, of which 23,424 were valid, while 439 were invalid.
Kintu Muhanga’s victory marks a dramatic political comeback, effectively sending him back to the Fort Portal City mayoral office for what supporters are calling a “second round” of leadership. His win also delivers a stinging blow to the ruling NRM in a city long considered politically competitive but strategically significant in the Rwenzori sub-region.
The defeated NRM candidate, whose real name is Albert Aheebwa, had mounted an aggressive campaign under the party’s yellow banner, banking on party structures and mobilisation. However, the results suggest that the electorate leaned toward an independent voice, signalling growing voter restlessness with party dominance and a preference for localised leadership.
Political observers say the razor-thin margin underscores the intensity of the race and highlights Fort Portal City as a critical battleground where personality, grassroots networks, and voter trust outweighed party machinery.
As celebrations erupted among Kintu Muhanga’s supporters, the outcome is already being interpreted as a warning shot to the NRM ahead of future urban contests, particularly in western Uganda’s fast-urbanising municipalities.
The Electoral Commission is yet to announce the full breakdown by division, but with the numbers now sealed, Rev. Willy Kintu Muhanga stands victorious—an independent once again at the helm of Fort Portal City.
