Kampala, Uganda: National Unity Platform (NUP) president and leading opposition figure Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu has warned of continued state repression in 2026, and called upon Ugandans to defend themselves, the Constitution, and what he described as the “people’s victory” in the forthcoming general elections.
Popularly known as Bobi Wine, the NUP leader made the remarks in his New Year address delivered at the party headquarters in Makerere-Kavule on Thursday, Jan 1, where he reflected on what he called sustained oppression under President Museveni’s four-decade rule.
“Many were abducted, tortured, disappeared, exiled, murdered or threatened into silence simply for supporting the struggle for a new Uganda,” Kyagulanyi said, citing the continued detention of Eddie Mutwe, whom he alleged was abducted on April 27, 2025 and tortured, as well as Machete Yasin and Ashraf Kalanzi, whom he said have spent five years in Kitalya prison without trial.
He also mentioned the arrest of activist Sarah Bireete and the continued incarceration of veteran opposition figure Kizza Besigye, whom he said was abducted from Kenya in November 2024.
Kyagulanyi criticised a recent High Court decision denying Besigye bail, saying it amounted to “rewriting the law.” “For those who know the law, a prisoner is not required to plead guilty or not guilty to be granted bail,” he said.
Critique of Governance and State Institutions
The NUP leader also used the address to launch a scathing attack on the government for concentrating power and wealth in the hands of a few, while presiding over elections, he said, remain neither free nor fair.
He also accused the police, military and Electoral Commission of abandoning their constitutional mandate. “Instead of protecting the Constitution and the people, they chose to serve the interests of the regime and selectively apply the law against citizens asking for a better country,” Kyagulanyi said.
Turning to Ugandans, mostly NUP supporters, Kyagulanyi urged them to reject what he described as illegal guidelines issued by state institutions. “When any institution issues guidelines that contradict the law, we must firmly reject them. No individual or institution has the authority to override our Constitution,” he said.
He explained that one of the defining features of the 2026 campaign has been what he called a national reawakening, symbolised by the widespread use of the Uganda flag at opposition events. “Citizens are now proudly and defiantly raising the national flag as a symbol of resistance, a symbol of a nation that belongs to all who live in it,” he said.
He urged Ugandans to support businesses and individuals displaying the flag. “If you see a shop or a boda boda flying the national flag, support them. Make them feel proud of their patriotism,” Kyagulanyi noted.
“Hang it in your shop, in your home, on your vehicle with pride. Anyone who attacks you for that has no authority,” he emphasized, adding that citizens have the right to defend themselves against criminal attacks.
Vote Protection and Election Strategy
Kyagulanyi devoted a significant portion of his address to practical guidance on election day, urging supporters to arrive early at polling stations, observe the voting process and document results.
“Be at the polling station as early as five or six in the morning. Ballot stuffing happens early, before most voters arrive,” he said.
He urged voters to remain at polling stations after voting and to photograph declaration of results forms once counting is completed. “The law requires that a copy of the declaration of results form be displayed at the polling station. Insist on it and take a picture,” he said.
Kyagulanyi also warned of a possible internet shutdown and urged supporters to download the BitChat application, which he said would allow communication via Bluetooth. “This is how we shall stay connected, share results forms and protect our vote, even if the regime tries to cut us off,” he said.
Call for Unity and Peaceful Change
Despite the strong language, Kyagulanyi said the struggle remains non-violent and rooted in the ballot. “Our weapons are the national flag and the ballot,” he said. “Not bullets, not violence, but the unbreakable will of the people.”
He drew parallels with historical resistance movements in Uganda, including the Bataka movement, the Uganda African Farmers Union and the Kabaka crisis, saying change has always come through collective courage. “Uganda was not built by cowards. Every generation has been tested, and every generation has answered,” Kyagulanyi said.
The NUP leader concluded by urging Ugandans to reject tribalism, fear and apathy. “We reject dictatorship, we reject corruption, and we reject those who want to steal our future,” he said. “Uganda shall be free, not by bullets, but by the will of the people.”
If you would like your article/opinion to be published on Uganda’s most authoritative news platform, send your submission on: [email protected]. You can also follow DailyExpress on WhatsApp and on Twitter (X) for realtime updates.
