Ugandan pop star and opposition leader Bobi Wine, who previously challenged President Yoweri Museveni in the disputed 2021 Uganda elections, has announced his candidacy for the upcoming 2026 presidential election, scheduled for January.
According to reports, the 43-year-old, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, will again face Museveni, who is widely expected to seek re-election at the age of 80. Wine previously rejected the 2021 election results, citing widespread electoral fraud, ballot stuffing, and violence against opposition supporters.
In his announcement, Wine described the 2026 polls as a “fighting opportunity” to expose what he termed the regime’s corruption and injustices, and to mobilize Ugandans to reclaim their freedom and democratic rights.
Wine also criticized Western governments for their silence on ongoing human rights abuses in Uganda, including the reported torture and illegal detention of his supporters.
If elected, he says his administration will prioritize restoring political freedoms, cracking down on corruption, and ending the abuse of state power.
Bobi Wine, Uganda presidential election 2026, Yoweri Museveni re-election,
