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Uganda’s main opposition leader, Robert Kyagulanyi—popularly known as Bobi Wine—has warned of widespread unrest if the country’s forthcoming general elections are manipulated to keep President Yoweri Museveni in power, according to reporting by CNN.
Speaking amid rising political tension ahead of the 2026 polls, Bobi Wine called on Ugandans to “rise up” should the electoral process be rigged, framing his remarks as a response to what he described as decades of repression, electoral fraud, and state violence. His comments come as fears grow that the election may follow the same violent pattern seen in previous polls.
President Museveni, who first took power in January 1986, has ruled Uganda for nearly 40 years, making him one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders. Over that period, he has repeatedly won elections that opposition parties and international observers have criticized for irregularities, intimidation, and the misuse of state security forces.
CNN reports that Bobi Wine’s warning is rooted in a long history of alleged human rights violations, particularly during election cycles. In the lead-up to both the 2021 and 2026 elections, Ugandan security agencies have been accused of arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, and violent crackdowns on opposition supporters.
Human rights organizations and the United Nations have documented patterns of abductions of opposition figures and activists, often carried out by armed men in plain clothes using unmarked vehicles. Many of those detained were held incommunicado for weeks or months, with families left without information on their whereabouts. Some victims later appeared in military courts, while others were never officially accounted for.
Bobi Wine himself has been repeatedly arrested, assaulted, and blocked from campaigning. Members of his National Unity Platform (NUP) party have borne the brunt of arrests, with hundreds detained in recent years. The opposition argues that these actions are intended to instill fear and suppress dissent ahead of elections.
The Ugandan government has consistently denied claims of systematic abuse, insisting that those arrested are suspected of threatening national security and will be charged through legal channels. President Museveni’s administration has also accused opposition leaders of inciting violence and attempting to destabilize the country.
Nevertheless, analysts warn that Bobi Wine’s call reflects deep public frustration after four decades of one-man rule and unresolved allegations of election-related violence. With memories of the bloodshed and abductions surrounding the 2021 election still fresh, observers fear that any perception of a rigged outcome in 2026 could trigger serious unrest.
As Uganda approaches another pivotal vote, the country stands at a crossroads—between a heavily contested political status quo and growing demands for accountability, credible elections, and respect for human rights.
