It came down to a single vote.
Celebrated investigative journalist Solomon Serwanjja has been elected LC1 chairperson of Bamutakudde Village in Ddundu Parish, Kyampisi Sub-county, Mukono District, after squeezing past his opponents by the narrowest margin possible—a one-vote victory.
Serwanjja, who contested as an Independent candidate, overcame National Unity Platform (NUP) flag bearer Lule Badru Ssozi Kirwana and fellow Independent David Kyambadde Zziwa in a race that kept residents on edge until the final count.
The dramatic result makes Serwanjja one of the standout winners from Uganda's nationwide LC1 elections, where thousands of villages elected new grassroots leaders under the Electoral Commission's village polling exercise.
Known nationally for his hard-hitting investigative journalism and his leadership at the African Institute for Investigative Journalism (AIIJ), Serwanjja now adds grassroots political leadership to his résumé.
His decision to enter elective politics attracted widespread attention during the campaign, with many watching to see whether the award-winning journalist could translate his public profile into votes on the ground.
The one-vote triumph underscores just how decisive every ballot can be in local elections, where neighborhood relationships and community trust often matter more than national political influence.
Serwanjja will now take charge of Bamutakudde Village as residents look to him to deliver on the promises that earned him one of the closest victories recorded in this year's LC1 polls.