Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, widely known as Bobi Wine, and the leader of the opposition political party, the National Unity Platform (NUP), has officially announced his intention to contest against President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni or any candidate his party fields in the 2026 presidential elections. Addressing the media on Monday at his residence in Magere, Kyagulanyi expressed his willingness to serve if his party deems him capable. He also urged Uganda’s youthful and educated populace to actively engage in politics to prevent being governed by individuals they perceive as less qualified.
Kyagulanyi dismissed claims of internal divisions within NUP, asserting that his discord with his former deputy for Buganda, Mathias Mpuuga, stems from ideological differences rather than personal grievances. He attributed their fallout to Mpuuga allegedly allocating himself UGX 500 million in his capacity as Leader of the Opposition. Mpuuga has since declared the establishment of a new political platform, the Democratic Alliance. Kyagulanyi argued that interpreting this fallout as evidence of factions within NUP would be erroneous, emphasizing that the party unites solely for noble causes. “We do not have factions in NUP. We’ve observed certain opportunists who sought our endorsement five years ago now claiming to sever ties with us. The truth is, we never had any formal alliances with them,” he clarified. He further elaborated, “Some of these individuals held senior positions within NUP, but we publicly dissociated from them due to their corrupt practices.
They no longer represent our values, and they have been compromised. Their assertions of being part of NUP are outright fabrications.” Additionally, Kyagulanyi criticized tweets made by Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Muhoozi Kainerugaba, describing them as immature and tribalistic. Delivering his end-of-year address, Kyagulanyi stated that Muhoozi’s remarks tarnish Uganda’s image and portray him as someone primarily concerned with advancing the interests of his own tribe. For the past two weeks, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the President’s son, has been on a tweeting rampage, sharing his thoughts on various matters. He has made threats to launch military attacks on Sudan and Nigeria, even suggesting he could take control of those nations. Muhoozi also requested a program on Uganda Broadcasting Corporation to allow women to admire his looks. He has joked about his desire to marry American pop sensation Beyoncé. On the domestic political front, Muhoozi has urged Ugandans to support his father in the upcoming general elections, predicting an 80% vote share, which he claims will be President Museveni’s final term in office. Muhoozi has also targeted Bobi Wine, attacking him with personal insults and mocking his appearance. Additionally, he has suggested that Mathias Mpuuga has presidential potential. Muhoozi’s tweets have previously caused discomfort for President Museveni.
In fact, during Muhoozi’s birthday celebration last year, President Paul Kagame offered to help Museveni rein in his son’s social media activity. Internationally, even foreign governments, including Sudan, have demanded official apologies from Uganda in response to Muhoozi’s threatening statements. However, government spokesperson and Minister for Information and National Guidance, Chris Baryomunsi, downplayed the tweets, advising the public to view them as mere musings and not to take them seriously. Meanwhile, Kyagulanyi has condemned the ongoing abductions of Ugandans by security forces based on their political views. He highlighted that this troubling practice has spread to Kenya, citing the recent abductions of Dr. Kizza Besigye and his associate Haj Obeid Kamulegeya, who were seized and brought back to Uganda, where they were charged with possessing firearms intended for military use.
