Popular Ugandan Musician Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, has announced he would run against 80-year-old Yoweri Museveni in the country’s 2026 presidential elections.
Musuveni, who has been in power since 1986, recently announced his intention to contest a seventh consecutive term since 1996, when he allowed the country’s first elections.
Bobi Wine’s Presidential Ambition
Bobi Wine, 43, is a former Member of Parliament for Kyadondo County East constituency in Wakiso District, in Uganda’s Central Region. He also leads the National Unity Platform (NUP) as its president.
This is not the first time the musician has contested against Museveni, having also contested the elections against Museveni in 2021, with the electoral commission announcing that Museveni had won reelection with 58.6% of the vote in an election mired in controversy.
Speaking on his decision to contest, Bobi Wine said “In a special way, 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,”
Bobi Wine also urged Ugandans to back his campaign under the rallying call #ProtestVote2026, which seeks to galvanize citizens frustrated with the status quo.
The election is scheduled to hold in January 2026 with Museveni’s son General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, recently calling for Bobi Wine to be beheaded on Social Media.
