Peter Sematimba concedes defeat
Thursday, 17th March, 2011

By Brian Mayanja and Sylvia Nankya

FORMER mayoral candidate Peter Sematimba has accepted the outcome of the Kampala mayoral elections held on March 14.

Speaking to journalists at his home in Rubaga yesterday, Sematimba said: “I acknowledge that the process for electing a new leader for Kampala is over and therefore a new mayor has been chosen and declared. I accept that fact and also congratulate the new mayor.”

Sematimba, who was the NRM flag bearer in the mayoral race, lost to Erias Lukwago (independent) who polled 229,325 (64.41%) of the total ballots cast against Sematimba’s 119,015 (33.43%) votes.

He called upon his supporters to rally behind Lukwago to build the city to a befitting status.

“To all my supporters and supporters of NRM, I am sorry that I could not deliver Kampala to you but the opportunity to build Kampala still exists. Inspite of the loss, I want us to recognise that we are one people in one city with one destiny. We can work together to achieve this dream,” Sematimba added.

He also called for harmony from all parties which were involved in the race, adding that the campaign was about building a new leadership for Kampala and not turning the city into a war zone.

Sematimba also denied involvement in any malpractice that marred the elections leading to the cancellation of the initial mayoral poll on February 23. “I came as a man of honour and left as one,” he added.

He said he will go back into private business but is willing to serve the country if given an opportunity.

Sematimba advised the four other contenders — Michael Mabikke, Francis Babu, Sandra Ngabo and Emmanuel Tumusiime — to accept defeat.

On Wednesday, they said they were going to sue the Electoral Commission on grounds that it erred to organise fresh polls before concluding investigations into factors that led to the cancellation of the February 23 poll.