Lweza, Uganda: The Opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) leader Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, has been officially nominated by the Electoral Commission (EC) to contest in Uganda’s 2026 general elections, marking his second attempt at the presidency.
Kyagulanyi was duly nominated on Wednesday, September 24, at the new EC offices in Lweza, Lubowa -amid heavy security deployment, with hundreds of his supporters gathering in anticipation of the announcement.
His clearance now sets him on a direct collision path with long-serving President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, who was nominated on Tuesday for a record-extending term.
Speaking shortly after his nomination, Kyagulanyi said his campaign would focus on accountability, good governance, and restoring dignity in leadership.
“We are here to give Ugandans a real choice, to ensure accountability, and to champion service delivery that touches the lives of every citizen,” Kyagulanyi declared, as he sets his sights on a second presidential bid, following his 2021 run in which he emerged as Museveni’s main challenger.
The Wednesday nomination exercise also saw the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) president, Nathan Nandala Mafabi, and Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) leader, Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Mugisha Muntu successfully cleared to join the 2026 presidential race.
Both leaders have promised issue-based campaigns anchored on democratic reforms and economic revival.
Security remained tight across Kampala during the two-day nomination process, with police and military personnel deployed on major routes leading to Lweza on Entebbe Road. The EC maintained strict crowd control measures, allowing only limited delegations to escort candidates to the nomination venue.
The NUP has since announced plans to launch its campaign with a nomination rally in Nateete this afternoon, expected to draw thousands of supporters as the party unveils its roadmap for the 2026 elections.
With Museveni, Bobi Wine, Nandala, Muntu, and others now on the official ballot, the 2026 general election is shaping up to be one of Uganda’s most closely watched contests in recent history, featuring both long-established political forces and a youthful opposition eager to drive change.
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