Kampala, Uganda: The Opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) leader Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, has declared his 2026 presidential campaign a “war for freedom,” warning supporters to brace for a turbulent and possibly violent election season while urging discipline and resilience.
Kyagulanyi, who was speaking to the media after full nomination on Wednesday to contest Uganda’s 2026 presidential elections, tied his struggle to Uganda’s liberation history.
“We are going to war. A war that we never chose, a war that we are not even trained for, but a war that has been imposed on us by our oppressor,” he told cheering supporters.
The NUP leader praised his supporters for their sacrifices during years of political repression, noting: “We have stood together through the teargas, bullets, beatings, abductions, through prisons, through the funerals. You have been my shield, eyes, courage, strength, my true friends. As we go into what’s likely to be an even more violent campaign, I will be relying on you, my friends. We are embarking on a long way to freedom.”
Kyagulanyi framed the campaign as a continuation of Uganda’s liberation struggles, invoking the memory of past generations. “Our grandparents shed blood for the independence of this country, our parents shed blood for what they believed was a liberation forty years ago. Our comrades in this very generation are in prison for this struggle. Let’s carry them in our hearts and minds. Failure is not an option—we must get our freedom or die trying,” he said.
Despite the militant language, he urged calm, discipline, and restraint among supporters: “Your duty in this campaign will not be to protect me, but to protect yourselves, protect each other, and protect those ordinary people who come to support us. Be very solid, sober, calm, and disciplined. Hope for the best but prepare for the worst. Be careful, but don’t show fear.”
Framing the election as a battle for ordinary citizens and future generations, Kyagulanyi concluded: “We are fighting for a better Uganda. We are fighting for ordinary children whose future is empty.”
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