NRM Ends 40-Year Opposition Rule as Boaz Kansiime Matiita Wins Rukungiri Municipality Mayoral Seat

Rukungiri: The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) has ended a 40-year opposition leadership spell in Rukungiri Municipality after its candidate, Boaz Kansiime Matiita, was declared the duly elected mayor.

According to the Rukungiri District Electoral Commission Returning Officer, Namara K. Abas, Matiita won the mayoral race after polling 5,759 votes, defeating Denis Ngabirano of the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF), who garnered 5,126 votes, and Okito Barikudembe of JEEMA, who received 88 votes.

Matiita replaces the incumbent Charles Makuru of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), the longtime and pioneer mayor of Rukungiri Municipality, who served for eight terms since 1996.

Makuru announced his retirement last year after nearly 40 years in leadership. He had been mayor of Rukungiri Town Council even before it was elevated to municipal status in 2010, meaning the municipality had never been led by anyone else apart from him. Throughout this period, Rukungiri Municipality remained under opposition leadership.

Rukungiri District is commonly known as an opposition stronghold in Uganda, largely due to prominent opposition figure Col. (Dr.) Kizza Besigye, who hails from the district. However, during the 2026 general elections, the NRM has swept all top political positions in the district.

These include Mathias Mwesigwa Rwabugumi (Rubabo Constituency), Rtd Maj. Gen. Jim Muhwezi Katugugu (Rujumbura Constituency), Lt. Gen. Henry Tumukunde (Rukungiri Municipality), Mary Paula Kebirungi (Rukungiri Woman MP), and Andrewson Katebire, who was declared the duly elected LC5 District Chairperson. Today, Boaz Kansiime Matiita adds the mayoral seat to the NRM’s victories.

Shortly after being declared winner, Matiita thanked the people of Rukungiri Municipality for entrusting him with leadership and pledged to deliver on his development promises.