For more than two decades, the politics of Jinja East--now Jinja City Southern Division East--has largely revolved around one man: Nathan Igeme Nabeta.
Charismatic and flamboyant, and hailing from one of Busoga's most influential families, Igeme's political career has been defined by dramatic victories, prolonged court battles and an enduring rivalry that shaped the constituency's political identity.
However, results from the just-concluded 2026 elections suggest that his long-standing grip on the area may finally be loosening.
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Igeme Nabeta first burst onto the political scene in 2001 when, as a young, confident returnee from the United States, he swept to victory as Member of Parliament for Jinja East Constituency.
His win marked the arrival of a new political force and quickly established him as a dominant figure in local politics.
He comes from the prominent Nabeta family, which also produced the late Henry Kyemba, a former cabinet minister and influential national figure. This political pedigree further strengthened his standing and appeal within Busoga.
With the return of multiparty politics in 2005, Igeme consolidated his position by reclaiming the seat in the 2006 general elections as the National Resistance Movement (NRM) flag bearer.
In January 2005, he was appointed State Minister for Trade, cementing his place within the national political establishment and elevating his profile beyond the constituency.
Igeme's political fortunes, however, soon became closely intertwined with the courts. In 2011, he faced a formidable challenge from Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) candidate Paul Mwiru.
Although Nabeta was initially declared winner, the courts overturned the result in 2013, ordering a by-election that Mwiru went on to win.
The rivalry intensified in 2016 when the two once again faced off. Igeme was again declared winner, only for the courts to nullify the election in 2017.
A subsequent by-election returned Mwiru to Parliament, allowing him to serve the remainder of the term and deepening the constituency's reputation as a hotspot for electoral litigation.
In 2021, Jinja was elevated to city status, and the constituency was renamed Jinja City Southern Division East. In another fiercely contested race, Nabeta was declared winner.
This time, Mwiru's petition failed, with the courts upholding Igeme's election--marking a rare legal victory for him in a constituency long associated with overturned results.
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The 2026 Shock
The most recent election cycle, however, delivered Nabeta his most significant political setback yet. He was defeated in the NRM primaries by his former ally Richard Mbaziira, a city councillor representing Jinja South East.
Refusing to exit the race, Nabeta opted to run as an independent candidate, adopting a watch as his campaign symbol.
The gamble failed. In the general election, Igeme finished third with 3,256 votes. Mbaziira placed second with 3,574 votes, while National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate Mwiru emerged victorious with 6,305 votes, reclaiming the seat and reasserting his influence in Jinja East politics.
It remains unclear whether Nabeta will challenge the results in court. What is clear, however, is that this marks the first time in 25 years that he has failed to win a general election in either Jinja East or Jinja City Southern Division East.
Whether he will attempt a political comeback in 2031 remains uncertain. Political observers say the results reflect a shifting political landscape, with voters increasingly willing to move beyond personalities that have dominated the constituency for decades.
For more than 20 years, Igeme Nabeta and Paul Mwiru have been the twin poles around which Jinja East politics revolved. With Mwiru's return to Parliament and Igeme's defeat, the balance of power appears to have shifted decisively--raising a compelling question: has Jinja East finally turned the page on the Igeme era?
