Bobi Wine Alleges Plot to Rig 2026 Polls, Government Denies Claims
KAMPALA – Uganda’s opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, has publicly accused the government of planning to manipulate the upcoming 2026 general elections. The leader of the National Unity Platform (NUP) party claims his team has obtained “reliable information” detailing a strategy by security agencies to provoke public chaos and impose a curfew in the period preceding the vote.
Drawing parallels to the 2020 election period which was marred by widespread unrest and a deadly crackdown, Kyagulanyi suggested the alleged plan was a tactic to disrupt the electoral process and disenfranchise voters.
In a sharp critique of the country’s electoral body, Kyagulanyi also took aim at Electoral Commission (EC) chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama, condemning his “silence” on what the opposition leader calls ongoing illegalities. He urged Byabakama to step down from his position if he cannot ensure a transparent and fair electoral process.
Government authorities have firmly denied the allegations. In their response, officials stated that the NUP party has a history of violating campaign regulations and endangering public safety.
Police and security forces, in prior briefings, have levelled their own accusations against the opposition party. These include flouting campaign guidelines by blocking highways with unauthorized convoys, attacking police officers, vandalizing police vehicles, and defiantly deviating from agreed-upon rally routes.
The Electoral Commission, caught in the middle of the escalating war of words, has issued a call for all candidates to adhere to the established campaign guidelines. The EC also stated that it remains prepared to address any confirmed breaches committed by either security forces or political actors, in an effort to assure the public of its commitment to overseeing a credible process.
With several years until the polls, these early accusations and denials signal a tense and contentious pre-election period in Uganda.
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