Agnes Lunkuse made history on January 22, 2026, after she was declared the winner of the Kalangala District chairperson race, polling 11,257 votes on the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) ticket.
She defeated National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate Robert Geoffrey Munaaba, who received 5,825 votes. The Kalangala District Returning Officer, Ronald Agaba, officially announced her victory, making Ms Lunkuse the first woman to hold the position since the district’s establishment in 1989.
Kalangala’s political leadership history includes Kiriwo Kigongo, the first LC5 chairperson who served nine months, followed by Daniel Kikoola (20 years), Willy Lugoloobi (10 years), and Rajab Semakula, who served a five-year term from 2021.
Community Impact Drives Victory
Ms Lunkuse attributed her overwhelming support to the work she had done in communities during the 10 months of active campaigning. “I found out that people do not elect you because of money, but because of the things you do that create a major impact in their lives,” she said.
She highlighted several community projects, including donating a wooden boat to Kaazi Malanga to help pupils cross Lake Victoria after flooding submerged part of the road, and constructing the first public toilet in Gaza, Buggala Island, which particularly benefited women.
Ms Lunkuse secured the NRM ticket last year after Farouk Bukenya and Livingstone Musoke stepped down in her favor, allowing her to focus on community engagement rather than party primaries.
Campaign Strategy
Her campaign combined social media outreach, grassroots mobilisation, and participation in government-led community meetings. NRM youth groups actively countered negative narratives online while amplifying her campaign messages. She frequently visited heavily populated landing sites, drawing large crowds, and joined forces with NRM MP candidates for joint campaigns.
Describing her election as both a challenge and a test, Ms Lunkuse told reporters, “It is a task that requires me to work twice as hard to prove that women can contest, win and do wonders in this district. There is nothing a woman cannot do if she takes a bold decision, regardless of negative voices.”
Focus on Education
Ms Lunkuse said her first priority as district chairperson will be the education sector, especially addressing policies that disadvantage island districts like Kalangala. “The cost of taking a child from Kaazi Bugaba Landing Site to a school at Semawundo Landing Site is equivalent to sending a child to an international school,” she noted. She pledged to lobby for funds to invest in education and construct schools with boarding facilities on individual islands.
Early Leadership Roots
Her leadership journey began at Bishop Dunstan Memorial Secondary School on Bugala Island, where she was elected head girl at 17. She successfully petitioned the Education Ministry to establish an A-Level UNEB centre at the school, enabling local girls to continue their studies without relocating.
She also advocated for girls’ inclusion in scholarship programs that had previously favoured boys. Councillor Joy Nakimuli praised her for her leadership and lobbying skills, noting the impact of her work in expanding A-Level access.
Allegations and Response
Mr Munaaba alleged that her victory was aided by unfair practices, including the use of government offices and programs such as the Parish Development Model (PDM) and iron sheet distribution to influence voters. He also claimed ballot stuffing at some polling stations, citing Lujaabwa and Bufumira Landing Sites.
The assistant RDC for Kalangala, Henry Lubulwa, denied these allegations, asserting that government programs were executed without bias and that voters ultimately decide who leads them.
About the Poll
Kalangala District consists of 84 islands spread across Lake Victoria, with 42,452 registered voters. Ms Lunkuse’s victory in the 2026 LC5 elections comes after NUP’s Rajab Semakula defeated NRM’s Willy Lugoloobi in 2021. Lugoloobi later won the Bujumba County MP race in 2026.
