Mbale City, which became a city in 2020, recently elected its first female mayor, Joyce Kidulu Matuka. Her victory is seen as a protest against long-standing political figures, signaling a shift toward fresh leadership. Matuka, 56, a teacher and the director of Wise Choices for Life Uganda, ran as an independent candidate. She secured 10,920 votes, narrowly defeating the National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate, Vincent Magombe, who received 10,682 votes.
Her win brings back memories of Canon Janet Wesonga and Naome Namarome Aryada, two former female mayors who served in the 1960s and 1980s when Mbale was still a municipality. For the first time, Mbale voters have chosen a female mayor through an election. Matuka, who holds a Master’s Degree in Organisational Leadership, has promised to provide strong leadership, focusing on improving revenue collection and driving city development.
Matuka expressed her gratitude to the people of Mbale after her win. She committed to prioritizing transparent governance and supporting city transformation. She also emphasized the importance of empowering women and youth groups. Reflecting on the past, Matuka noted that Mbale was once known as the cleanest town in East Africa. Unfortunately, she observed that the city now faces significant challenges, including poor sanitation and weak infrastructure. However, she firmly believes that, with better governance and a strong focus on revenue collection, the city can return to its former glory.
One key issue Matuka highlighted is the city’s low revenue collection, which currently stands at Shs3.5 billion. She aims to build better systems to increase this revenue. Matuka also stressed the need to improve critical areas such as roads, hospitals, and schools. Furthermore, she plans to address traffic congestion and sanitation issues. As it stands, many businesses operating in the city fail to pay their taxes, which directly impacts the local economy.
Sam Sakwa Napokoli, the Minister for Local Government, congratulated Matuka on her victory. He believes that with the right team, she can help improve the city. Sakwa also called on Matuka to tackle waste management and enforce cleanliness regulations. He pointed out the importance of modernizing solid waste management to prevent pollution and health hazards.
Looking at the broader political picture, NRM candidates won the LC5 chairperson elections in the Bugisu sub-region, with the exception of Mbale City and Manafwa District. Matuka’s victory, however, indicates that voters in Mbale are seeking change and new leadership.
READ: 40 Years of NRM Rule in Uganda: Progress and Persistent Challenges
