Ugandan opposition leader and globally recognized pop star Bobi Wine has formally declared his intention to run for president in the country’s upcoming general elections slated for January 2026. The 43-year-old, born Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, will once again go head-to-head with Uganda’s long-serving leader, President Yoweri Museveni, who is widely expected to seek re-election despite having ruled the country for nearly four decades.
The announcement marks Wine’s second bid for the presidency after his first attempt in 2021, where he emerged as the main challenger to President Museveni but ultimately lost amid widespread allegations of electoral fraud and violent suppression of opposition supporters.
Speaking at a press conference in Kampala on Friday, Bobi Wine called the 2026 election “another battle for the soul of our nation,” describing the campaign not just as a political contest but a “fighting opportunity” to hold Uganda’s ruling regime accountable.
“We are going into this election, not because we believe in its fairness, but because it is another opportunity to expose the dictatorship, to mobilize our people, and to continue our struggle for freedom,” Wine told journalists. “We know that Museveni’s regime survives on repression, corruption, and manipulation of institutions, but the people of Uganda are waking up.”
Wine’s declaration comes amid growing political tension and dissatisfaction among Ugandan youth, who have long accused President Museveni’s government of stifling dissent, perpetuating poverty, and restricting fundamental freedoms. Museveni, who has ruled since 1986, would be 80 years old during the 2026 election and has previously amended Uganda’s constitution to remove both term and age limits, enabling him to extend his grip on power.
In his speech, Wine did not mince words in his criticism of Western nations, especially those he accused of turning a blind eye to ongoing human rights violations in Uganda. He claimed that many of his supporters have been illegally detained, tortured, and even killed simply for backing his campaign in previous elections.
“We are disappointed in the silence of our so-called international friends,” Wine said. “Where are the voices that speak out against injustice when our people are being abducted, tortured, and murdered for expressing themselves? Democracy should not only be a Western ideal — it should be universal.”
The pop star-turned-politician, who first rose to fame through his socially conscious music before transitioning into politics, leads the National Unity Platform (NUP), Uganda’s largest opposition party. Since entering the political arena in 2017, Wine has transformed into a symbol of resistance for millions of Ugandans, particularly the youth, who make up more than 75% of the country’s population.
Wine emphasized that if elected, his administration would prioritize restoring political freedoms, ensuring accountability in public institutions, and tackling corruption head-on.
“We will return dignity to public office,” he declared. “We will end the culture of impunity where those in power abuse the law with no consequences. We will rebuild institutions that serve the people, not individuals. And we will make sure that justice is not a privilege for the connected few, but a right for every Ugandan.”
Despite the passion and momentum surrounding Wine’s candidacy, political analysts caution that his path to the presidency remains steep, given Uganda’s history of state intimidation, electoral manipulation, and the ruling party’s control over security forces and key government institutions.
In the 2021 election, Wine’s campaign was marred by violent crackdowns, including the arrest of opposition candidates, the shutdown of internet services, and military deployments across major cities. Wine himself was placed under de facto house arrest shortly after casting his vote, sparking international condemnation.
In response to Wine’s fresh candidacy, government spokesperson Ofwono Opondo dismissed the opposition leader’s claims of state repression and insisted that Uganda remains committed to free and fair elections.
“Uganda is a democratic country where everyone has the right to contest,” Opondo told reporters. “The law will take its course, and those who violate it, whether in government or opposition, will be held accountable.”
However, human rights organizations have documented several instances of arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, and extrajudicial killings, particularly in the lead-up to and aftermath of the 2021 elections. The United Nations and Amnesty International have previously expressed concern over Uganda’s human rights record.
With the 2026 elections drawing nearer, Bobi Wine’s announcement sets the stage for what is likely to be another high-stakes showdown between the entrenched power of President Museveni’s National Resistance Movement (NRM) and the growing push for change championed by Uganda’s restless youth.
Wine ended his announcement with a rallying call to his supporters:
“This is not just about Bobi Wine versus Museveni. This is about all of us — the students, the mothers, the farmers, the teachers, the workers. This is a revolution of the ordinary people who have had enough. And we will not be silenced.”
As preparations for the 2026 elections gather pace, all eyes will be on how both domestic institutions and the international community respond to the evolving political landscape in Uganda. For now, Bobi Wine’s campaign promises a renewed spotlight on Uganda’s democratic future and the broader struggle for justice in East Africa.
