Faith Nyasuguta
Ugandan opposition leader and pop star Bobi Wine has officially announced his candidacy for the 2026 presidential elections, vowing to intensify the push for democratic reforms in a country ruled by President Yoweri Museveni for nearly four decades.
Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, will run as the National Unity Platform (NUP) flagbearer. The 43-year-old previously challenged Museveni in the 2021 elections, coming in second amid what international observers and human rights groups flagged as a climate of intimidation, media censorship, and voter suppression. Wine rejected the 2021 results, alleging rampant fraud, ballot stuffing, and violence against his supporters, allegations the government has repeatedly denied.
“This is not just an election. It is a fight for freedom, dignity, and justice,” Wine declared at a press briefing on May 9, 2025. “We are going into this to expose the rot, to mobilize Ugandans, and to demand our rightful place in shaping the future of our country.”
President Museveni, now 80, has been in power since 1986, making him one of Africa’s longest-ruling leaders. Although Museveni has not formally declared his candidacy for 2026, many within his ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) expect him to seek another term following the removal of presidential age limits in 2017.
Wine also criticized Western powers for what he called “double standards” in their foreign policies, accusing them of turning a blind eye to Museveni’s human rights abuses while maintaining strategic partnerships. “The same countries that preach democracy are silent when our people are tortured, jailed, or killed. This hypocrisy must end,” he said.
The opposition leader noted that hundreds of his supporters remain imprisoned or missing following the last elections. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have both reported on abductions and extrajudicial detentions linked to Uganda’s security forces.
Wine said that if elected, his top priorities would include restoring political and civil liberties, strengthening judicial independence, and curbing corruption. He also pledged to invest in health, education, and job creation for Uganda’s fast-growing youth population, which makes up over 75% of the country.
The political environment remains tense. Several opposition rallies have been blocked or violently dispersed in recent months. Wine himself has been repeatedly arrested or placed under house arrest during previous campaigns. His party, NUP, continues to face pressure, with government officials labeling it a threat to national security, a claim critics say is part of a broader strategy to silence dissent.
Despite these challenges, Wine remains one of Museveni’s most formidable rivals, particularly among urban youth. His popularity stems from both his political activism and his status as a former pop star who used music to criticize the government before transitioning into politics.
As the 2026 elections draw closer, the political climate in Uganda is likely to heat up, with growing calls from civil society for electoral transparency, justice for victims of political violence, and meaningful democratic reforms.
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