Bobi Wine Warns: Mass Protests if Museveni Rigs Uganda’s 2026 Election

Ugandan opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi – also known as Bobi Wine has warned that he will call for nationwide protests if President Yoweri Museveni rigs the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections scheduled for January 16, 2026.

Speaking to AFP on January 12, Wine declared: “We have said it many times, that if General Museveni rigs the election, we shall call for protests.” He described the vote as a “protest election” and urged citizens to “take charge” of the process, questioning whether Museveni would allow a peaceful transfer of power.

Wine added: “Are we taking power? That’s a question for the population, the international community, and for General Museveni, who is holding power using the gun.”

Museveni, 81, who has ruled Uganda since 1986, is seeking another term. The election will involve 21.6 million registered voters choosing the president, 353 constituency MPs, and 146 women representatives (one per district). A presidential candidate must secure 50% + 1 vote to avoid a runoff.

Wine, 43, is facing Museveni for the second time after the disputed 2021 election, which was marred by violence, arrests, and fraud allegations. Museveni won that contest with 58 percent of the vote against Wine’s 35 percent. Rights groups including the UN and Amnesty International have already raised alarms over pre‑election repression, citing arrests of Wine’s supporters.

While Wine emphasized non‑violence, he warned that even “violent regimes get thrown out by protests.” His remarks come just months after Tanzania’s controversial November 2025 election, which was followed by post‑vote unrest.