National Unity Platform (NUP) president Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, has officially expressed interest in contesting for the presidency in Uganda’s 2026 general elections.
Kyagulanyi submitted his credentials on Wednesday at the NUP headquarters in Makerere Kavule, where he was accompanied by his wife, Barbara Itungo, and their son. He was welcomed by hundreds of enthusiastic supporters.
He presented his academic documents to the NUP Electoral Commission Chairperson, Harriet Chemutai, in response to a call from the party’s Secretary General for interested presidential flagbearer aspirants to formally express their interest.
In his address to supporters after the submission, Kyagulanyi explained that his renewed presidential bid is not motivated by a desire for power or personal fame, but by a determination to complete what he termed “unfinished business”—bringing an end to President Yoweri Museveni’s more than 35-year rule, which he described as dictatorial.
“Today, I’m responding to the Secretary General’s call for those interested in being the party’s flagbearer in the upcoming elections. I’ve submitted my credentials and I’m ready to go,” he declared.
Kyagulanyi highlighted the ongoing repression of NUP members, citing abductions, politically motivated charges, and detentions as reasons driving his continued activism.
“Normally, I’d have Eddie Mutwe, Macete, or Yasin Ssekitoleko by my side, but they’re not here. Instead, I’ve brought their mothers to represent them, given their unjust detention,” he said.
He urged supporters to remain steadfast and vigilant, promising not to let them down. “I urge you, my brothers and sisters, to put your trust in me. I won’t let you down in this fight, as long as we do things right and protect our vote.”
Kyagulanyi first contested for the presidency in the 2021 general elections, where he garnered 3,631,437 votes (35.08%), coming second to incumbent President Museveni of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), who won with 6,042,898 votes (58.38%).
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