Musician Ali Bukeni, aka Nubian Li, has been declared the winner of the Nakawa Division mayoral race.
Nubian Li, a close ally of National Unity Platform (NUP) president Bobi Wine, secured a decisive victory in the closely watched contest, defeating the incumbent mayor, Paul Mugambe, along with other contenders, including Suzan Zawedde.
The results were announced in the early hours of Thursday in the presence of NUP leadership, including party spokesperson and Nakawa West Member of Parliament Joel Ssenyonyi, who praised Nubian Li’s leadership qualities.
“Nakawa people, I congratulate you for choosing a unique leader. With Nubian Li, you have elected someone who is both creative and composed,” Ssenyonyi said.
Nubian Li thanked supporters for their patience and resilience during the prolonged vote tallying process and pledged to serve the division diligently.
“I am humbled by the trust Nakawa residents have placed in me. I vow to work tirelessly to meet your expectations and serve every community in the division,” he said.
The victory marks a significant win for the NUP in Kampala, underscoring the party’s continued strength and support in Uganda’s urban centres.
“I will continue to advocate for the rule of law, true democracy aside from doing and producing my music. I want to show people that participating in politics doesn’t require one to have an electoral position but to be aware of the political happenings in their surroundings and follow up on them because they will always affect you as long as you stay in a certain locality,” he said.
Nubian Li,a close confidant of Kyagulanyi Ssentamu aka Bobi Wine and the husband to Mutoni Salha, the LC3 Chairperson of Kyanja Parish, says he jumped on the political wagon after being inspired by political debates he had with Bobi Wine, a former 2020 presidential aspirant from National Unity Platform.
Nubian li political journey
After years of supporting Bobi Wine in both music and activism, Nubian Li has officially announced his bid for the Nakawa Mayor seat in 2026 general elections.
Speculation about Nubian Li’s potential political ambitions circulated for months, but he put those rumors to rest and publicly declared his intentions. He expressed the need for young, capable leaders to take up positions of leadership and make a change.
“As our president urges us to step up if we have the capability to lead, I too will stand for the position of Nakawa Mayor. When the time comes, I humbly request that you consider me,” Nubian Li stated, drawing loud applause from the crowd. His words signaled strong early support for his political aspirations and marked the beginning of a new chapter in his career.
This announcement comes as no surprise to many who have closely followed Nubian Li’s journey. Over the years, he has played a key role in Bobi Wine’s political endeavors—first as a close friend and collaborator in the People Power movement, and later as a committed activist.
For Nubian Li, this move is more than just a personal ambition—it’s part of a broader call for youth involvement in politics. He has long been an advocate for the younger generation to take leadership roles and push for change.