Salongo Habibu Nsikonene, the Ugandan man who attracted public attention after marrying seven women on the same day, including two sisters from the same family, has been sworn in as the LC1 chairperson of Namasengere Village in Nakifuma-Naggalama Town Council, Mukono District. His new leadership role marks another milestone for the man whose unusual marriage made headlines across the country.
Nsikonene’s swearing-in ceremony was delayed following an election dispute filed by his rival, Stephen Kitooke, who challenged his victory. However, the Mukono District Electoral Commission dismissed the complaint, allowing Nsikonene to assume office. He was eventually sworn in three weeks ago after the dispute was resolved, despite having earlier received confirmation of his election from town council electoral officials.
Following his inauguration, Nsikonene pledged to unite residents and work with everyone, regardless of their political choices during the election. He said his focus was now on serving the entire community and addressing the challenges affecting residents rather than dwelling on political disagreements.
One of the major issues Nsikonene intends to address is land grabbing, which he says has affected several residents, including himself. He alleged that attempts had previously been made to take away his land under the former village leadership. He promised to help residents resolve land disputes and work with relevant authorities to protect people from unlawful land acquisition.
On education, the new LC1 chairperson said he wanted to reduce illiteracy by promoting access to affordable schooling. He revealed that he had already established a school and hoped to expand educational opportunities for children in the village, giving more families a chance to access education.
Nsikonene also pledged to empower women and other residents by providing interest-free loans to help them start or expand small businesses. He said he would personally provide the financial support and encourage residents to form organised groups where they could save money, develop businesses and improve their household incomes.
His proposed loan initiative has raised hopes among some women in the village, who believe access to affordable capital could help them grow their businesses and improve their livelihoods. However, the success of the programme will depend on the resources available, the number of beneficiaries and how the initiative is managed over time.
Nsikonene has further promised to engage higher authorities to improve roads serving Namasengere Village, saying better transport infrastructure would support business activities and access to essential services. As he begins his term, residents will be looking to see how he turns his promises into action, with his leadership expected to be judged by his ability to address local challenges and improve the welfare of the community.
