Bobi Wine cleared for presidential nomination on September 24

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The Electoral Commission (EC) has cleared National Unity Platform (NUP) president Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, for nomination as a presidential candidate in the 2026 general election.

EC chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama signed the certificate of verification of supporters’ forms for Kyagulanyi, who is making his second attempt to contest for the country’s highest office.

The certificate, dated September 19, 2025, states that the EC has verified at least 100 of Kyagulanyi’s supporters from each of at least two-thirds of all districts in Uganda, thereby meeting the requirements of section 10(1)(b) and 10(3) of the Presidential Elections Act, Cap 177.

Armed with the certificate, Kyagulanyi took to X, formerly Twitter, claiming that the EC’s earlier statement about them not submitting enough signatures was intended to delay their nomination date.

The EC has scheduled Kyagulanyi’s nomination for Wednesday, September 24, at 2:00 pm, instead of Tuesday, September 23, at 10:00am, as he had requested. 

He criticised the decision as an attempt to frustrate their campaign plans, which included holding two rallies.

The Commission also cleared Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) presidential candidate Nandala Mafabi for nomination on the same day, September 24.

Kyagulanyi, a musician by training, came second to President Yoweri Museveni in the last general election.

He entered elective politics in June 2017, winning the Kyadondo East parliamentary seat as an independent candidate.

Now aged 43, Kyagulanyi has established a strong reputation as a vocal critic of the incumbent President and has become the face of Uganda’s Opposition.

Analysts say his ‘People Power’ movement, which evolved into NUP in July 2020, has inspired many young people to believe they can drive the change they want to see.