The President of the National Unity Platform (NUP), Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, is on the verge of missing out on the 2026 presidential nominations.
According to the Electoral Commission, aspiring presidential candidates are required to submit at least 10 signatures from each of 98 districts across the country. However, the Commission has verified signatures from only 80 districts submitted by the NUP leader, leaving 18 districts unverified. This shortfall could disqualify him from the nomination process unless new signatures are submitted.
In response, Bobi Wine claimed his team had already submitted more than enough signatures per district. He criticized the Commission, pointing out that the same institution had accepted President Museveni’s signatures without issue.
“If you are a registered voter and your National Identity Card shows you are a voter in any of the following districts, please come to the National Unity Platform headquarters at Makerere-Kavule tomorrow between 8:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. and give us your signature,” he urged supporters.
So far, 15 presidential aspirants, including incumbent President Yoweri Museveni and Bobi Wine, have submitted their nomination forms. The official nomination of presidential candidates is scheduled for September 23–24, 2025.
President Museveni, who has ruled Uganda since 1986, is seeking a seventh term in office. His nomination forms were submitted on his behalf by NRM Secretary General Richard Todwong and First National Vice Chairman Moses Kigongo.
Bobi Wine is widely expected to be Museveni’s strongest challenger in what many anticipate will be a heated political rematch. According to the Electoral Commission, over 160 individuals have so far picked up presidential nomination forms. Several political parties, including the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), have also indicated their intention to field candidates—signaling a highly competitive race in the 2026 general elections.
Observers say the likely rematch between Museveni and Bobi Wine is set to dominate the national political conversation, reigniting debates around leadership, democracy, and Uganda’s future.
In the last presidential election held on January 14, 2021, 11 candidates contested the presidency. Of the 18,103,603 registered voters, 10,350,819 cast their ballots, representing a 57.2% voter turnout. President Museveni won with 6,042,898 votes (58.38%), while Bobi Wine came second with 3,631,437 votes (35.08%).
The result extended Museveni’s tenure beyond four decades, cementing his position as one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders.
