Uganda Boxing Federation president Moses Muhangi has fallen short in his parliamentary bid after Hajjat Minsa Kabanda was declared winner of the Kampala Central Member of Parliament seat.
Muhangi was among a crowded field in one of the most closely watched races of the 2026 general election, which attracted national attention following the withdrawal of long-serving MP Muhammad Nsereko.
Running alongside established political figures, Muhangi sought to translate his prominence in sports administration into electoral support in the capital.
The National Resistance Movement candidate Kabanda secured the seat with 22,332 votes, defeating National Unity Platform secretary general David Lewis Rubongoya, who polled 18,242. Other candidates, including Muhangi, businessman Abraham Luzzi, and Alliance for National Transformation’s Agaba Muzoora, trailed far behind the two frontrunners.
Muhangi’s campaign was built around his leadership of the Uganda Boxing Federation and his calls for greater political inclusion of sports stakeholders.
His entry into the race marked a rare crossover from sports governance into frontline parliamentary politics, adding a different profile to the contest even though he did not mount a decisive challenge.
The election outcome has been overshadowed by disputes from the opposition, with Rubongoya rejecting the results and alleging irregularities and violence during voting and tallying.
Kabanda dismissed the claims, insisting the process was free and fair and attributing her victory to sustained grassroots engagement.
