By virtue of his election as the new Lord Mayor of Kampala, Hon. Ronald Balimwezo has automatically assumed office as the new Patron of Kampala Capital City Authority Football Club (KCCA FC), ushering in a fresh political and sporting chapter for the Kasasiro Boys.
Balimwezo, flying the National Unity Platform (NUP) flag, secured a commanding victory in the Lord Mayor race after polling 141,220 votes, a margin that clearly underlined his dominance and popularity among Kampala voters.
His closest challenger, Moses Kizito Nsubuga of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), managed 43,615 votes, while the incumbent Eria Lukwago of the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) finished third with 41,915 votes.
The wide gap between Balimwezo and his nearest rivals not only reflected a strong political statement from the electorate but also marked a significant shift in the city’s leadership landscape.
For the last 15 years, Eria Lukwago had served as Kampala’s Lord Mayor and, by extension, the Patron of KCCA FC.
First elected in 2011 on the Democratic Party (DP) ticket, Lukwago later crossed to the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) before settling with PFF.
His tenure followed in the footsteps of the late Nasser Ssebaggala and John Ssebaana Kizito, both DP stalwarts, sustaining a long tradition of opposition leadership at City Hall, and at KCCA FC.
Under Lukwago’s patronage, KCCA FC enjoyed one of the most successful spells in its history.
Since his first election in 2011, the club lifted five Uganda Premier League titles, winning back-to-back crowns in the 2012/13 and 2013/14 seasons, reclaiming the title in 2015/16, defending it in 2016/17, and adding another in 2018/19.
On the continental stage, the Kasasiro Boys made history in 2018 by becoming the first Ugandan club to reach the CAF Champions League group stages, a landmark achievement.
A year earlier, in 2017, the 13-time league champions and joint record holders of the Uganda Cup (10 titles) had also featured in the CAF Confederation Cup group stages.
However, since the 2018/19 season, KCCA FC have endured a difficult period.
The club has gone six consecutive seasons without a league title, with their last major silverware, the Uganda Cup, coming in 2018.
Lukwago, a lifelong KCCA FC supporter, endured the highs and lows of this challenging phase and remains emotionally invested in the club’s fortunes, even after relinquishing the role of Patron.
As Lukwago bows out, Balimwezo steps in, not only as a political leader but also as a sportsman.
Widely known for his deep involvement in boxing, the new Patron brings a sporting pedigree that could benefit not just football but the many other disciplines affiliated with KCCA.
These include boxing, basketball, and several other sports clubs under the KCCA umbrella.
With new leadership at City Hall and a new Patron at Lugogo, optimism quietly builds among the faithful.
Whether Balimwezo’s era will herald a return to the glory days remains to be seen, but a new chapter has undeniably begun for both Kampala and KCCA FC.
