The President of the National Unity Platform (NUP), Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, also known as Bobi Wine, has met with European Union ambassadors to discuss the upcoming 2026 general elections. The meeting took place at the NUP offices in Makerere-Kavule.
Jan Sadek, the European Union Ambassador to Uganda, confirmed the engagement, noting that the meeting was part of a series of discussions the EU is holding with various political parties in Uganda.
“We had a meeting with the NUP president and his team, alongside ambassadors from EU member states. This is part of a broader initiative in which we’ve also met with the NRM and plan to engage other political parties as well,” Sadek said.
He emphasized the importance of the coming election year: “This is a critical year. Uganda is heading into elections in 2026, and this process is vital for the country’s democracy. We expect all Ugandans to take an active interest, and so do we—as diplomats and observers, we are closely following developments throughout the year.”
Sadek said the discussion with NUP leaders covered the current political environment in Uganda and how it may impact the 2026 elections.
“We’ve observed incidents of violence, such as during the by-elections in Kawempe North. We also discussed recent actions by security forces against members of the NUP president’s team. These events raise concerns about whether there is a level playing field—something that is crucial for any credible democratic process,” he added.
He called on all political actors in Uganda to uphold democratic principles and to ensure that the elections are conducted peacefully and fairly.
The meeting also touched on Uganda’s economic situation, including the EU’s support for the private sector, the significant growth in Ugandan exports to Europe, and the shared focus on driving a green transition.
“We welcome these discussions with political parties to better understand their electoral plans and how they engage with Ugandans, particularly the youth—who form a large portion of the population,” Sadek noted.
Bobi Wine said the meeting offered an opportunity for NUP to express concerns about what he described as the diplomats’ perceived closeness to General Museveni’s son, which, he claimed, many Ugandans interpret as support for oppression.
“The head of the EU delegation responded to this directly, and I will leave his explanation as it was. It was a productive conversation. I also raised the issue of our colleague Eddie Mutwe, who is languishing in jail. I urged the delegation to use their voice to advocate for his release and ensure he receives urgent, specialized medical treatment,” Bobi Wine stated.
