Singer Nubian Li eyes NUP flag for Nakawa mayoral seat
The development comes after the sudden withdrawal of one of the party hopefuls, Godfrey Luyombya, who is the current speaker.
Nubian Li is coming out for the first time to join politics, although originally, he had preferred to stay in the background. (Courtesy photos)
By Eddie Ssejjoba
Journalists @New Vision
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Celebrated local artiste Buken Ali aka Nubian Li is set to face off with incumbent Nakawa Urban Council mayor Paul Mugambe for the National Unity Platform (NUP) card.
The development comes after the sudden withdrawal of one of the party hopefuls, Godfrey Luyombya, who is the current speaker.
In a statement posted on his X (formerly Twitter) account on Thursday, July 3, 2025, Luyombya, who is now eyeing the City Hall, through Nakawa II Ward, said he had decided to withdraw from the Nakawa Division Urban Council Mayoral race even after submitting his papers to his NUP party.
“As you are aware friends, I had presented myself to contest for the position of Mayor Nakawa division Urban Council during the forthcoming general elections, I thank you for championing my campaign and the concrete support conferred upon me, which has energised us every coming day as we kept in service,” he said.
Luyombya explained that he and his team entered several engagements with senior leaders in his party and other stakeholders to harmonise their position and after several discussions, he added, he found it prudent to withdraw from the race in what he termed as “the interest of harmony and cohesion”.
“This is a heavy decision to make as a team and for myself for what we have journeyed a successful service tenure; however, as a leader, I am supposed to show the spirit of leadership,” he stated.
The party remains with two contestants, Nubian Li and Paul Mugambe, creating uncertainty among Mugambe’s supporters for the party card.
Speaking to journalists on Friday, Mugambe called upon his supporters to remain firm, saying he would still contest for the seat.
“I want to assure my supporters that I am still willing to continue serving you, I also appeal to my party to give me another chance to hold the party flag. For the last five years, I have served well my people and my party. I have no doubt that I will again deliver,” he said.
Mugambe’s response comes after NUP spokesperson and Leader of Opposition in Parliament Joel Ssenyonyi intensified his campaigns and moved around with Nubian Li as the suitable candidate for the seat.
Ssenyonyi also accompanied Nubian Li when he submitted his papers to the party electoral committee at the party headquarters.
Nubian Li, a soft-spoken figure among the ghetto boys and a long-time close associate of the NUP president Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine, is coming out for the first time to join politics, although originally, he had preferred to stay in the background.
Nubian Li has produced several songs and videos with Bobi Wine, including ‘Man and Woman’, Twogere, Nteredde, Not Your Enemy and remains popular among the party youths.
Zaidi Sseguya, the NUP chairperson for Nakawa district, said he was pleased with Luyombya's withdrawal from the mayoral race, saying the party fielding three candidates had created a lot of pressure and anxiety within the party.
“We have been trying to do my party harmonisation, but his withdrawal has made our work easy. It is good he is now targeting Nakawa II to become the Lord Councillor,” he stated.
He said the party was doing the same for several other positions and appealed to whoever would be advised to step down not to turn around and come on the independent ticket or join another party.
“We ask those who will be dropped to accept the party decision and wait for another turn,” he stated.
The National Resistance Movement (NRM) is fronting Adam Kibuuka for the mayoral seat.