KAMPALA, Uganda – Opposition figure Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, also known as Bobi Wine, has officially submitted his expression of interest to run for the country’s top seat on the National Unity Platform (NUP) ticket.
Y News understands that the General Election in the East African nation are scheduled to be held on January 12, 2026.
On Wednesday, June 25, 2025, Bobi Wine, a popstar artist-turned politician, returned his expression of interest forms and declared he will stand for the presidency in next year’s elections.
“This afternoon at the @NUP_Ug Headquarters, I was very humbled to formally submit my Expression of Interest in running for President of Uganda in the upcoming #ProtestVote2026,’ Bobi Wine posted on his official X account (formerly Twitter).
Who else accompanied Bobi Wine to the NUP headquarters
He was accompanied by his wife, Barbie Itungo Kyagulanyi, and their son Shadrack Mbogo.
“Specifically, some family members of our detained or disappeared comrades also offered to come with me, to assert the fact that our mission is not yet complete. I’m very grateful to the mothers of Eddie Mutwe and Yasin Ssekitoleko Machete, who are in detention without trial, as well as the wives of our disappeared comrades Ddamulira John and Johnbosco Kibalama,” Bobi Wine added.
The NUP party leader said he will be counting on the support of the millions of Ugandans, as well as the infinite mercies of the Almighty, to guide him all through towards victory.
Already, President Yoweri Museveni has officially signalled his intent to run for re-election in Uganda’s 2026 general elections, aiming to extend his nearly four-decade rule.
According to a statement posted by the National Resistance Movement (NRM) on X, Museveni will pick his nomination papers from the party’s Electoral Commission offices on Saturday, June 28, 2025, as he seeks to retain both the NRM chairmanship and the party’s presidential flag bearer position.
“Museveni seeks to retain the positions of the NRM chairman and party presidential flag bearer in the 2026 elections,” the NRM said.
Y News knows that Museveni, 80, has ruled Uganda since January 1986 after taking power following the Battle of Kampala.
Why Museveni’s presidency has not been a walk in the park
Over the years, his presidency has been characterised by relative economic stability and development, but also marred by widespread criticism over democratic backsliding, human rights abuses, and repression of political opposition.
His prolonged stay in power has been enabled by constitutional amendments that removed presidential term and age limits, effectively allowing him to contest indefinitely.
During the January 2021 presidential elections, the then 76-year-old Museveni said he was standing for stability.
On the other hand, Bobi Wine, then 38 years old, said he represented the younger generation in one of the world’s youngest countries, where the median age is 16.
However, President Museveni won the majority vote by 59% while Bobi Wine secured 35% of the cast vote.
