After long hours of waiting, Elias Luyimbazi Nalukoola of the National Unity Platform (NUP) was declared the winner of the Kawempe North parliamentary seat.

The returning officer reportedly fled following pressure from supporters of Nalukoola's closest rival, Ms Faridah Nambi, of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM). He, however, returned moments later and handed over the declaration form to Nalukoola's agents.

While reading the results and declaring Mr Nalukoola the winner of the Kawempe North MP seat with 34,985 votes, Ms Nambi's team opposed the results, confronting the returning officer before he fled the Kololo tally centre in an Electoral Commission (EC) vehicle.

According to the EC, Nambi obtained 8,930 votes, which she contested heavily. The hotly contested race attracted five candidates, with a close contest between Nalukoola and Nambi.

The others include Edward Stanley Engenamaitum (Indep) with 114 votes, Ismail Musitwa (FDC) with 100 votes, and Salim Sserunkuma (Indep) with 131 votes.

Speaking after his win, Nalukoola attributed his victory to the people of Kawempe North who entrusted him to serve them.

"I'm not worried at all. I was voted for by the people of Kawempe. It was only NRM and Nambi who wanted to steal my win," he said.

He added, "I gave her a bloody nose, but I am wondering why they want to declare themselves winners. She has failed, but I have seen her attacking the returning officer. Why?"