Bobi Wine, 6 others join Museveni to try to oust him from power

The Electoral Commission of Uganda concluded its two-day presidential nominations exercise on Wednesday September 24, 2025.

On the final day, the Commission nominated Nathan Nandala Mafabi of Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party, Mugisha Gregory Muntu Oyera of Alliance for National Transformation (ANT), Kyagulanyi Robert Ssentamu of National Unity Platform (NUP) and Munyagwa Mubarak Sserunga of Common Man’s Party (CMP).

Also nominated on the final day was Bulira Frank Kabinga of the Revolutionary People’s Party (RPP).

On Tuesday, Yoweri T. Kaguta Museveni and Elton Joseph Mabirizi of the Conservative Party (CP) were the only duo nominated.

According to the Electoral Commission, all candidates were nominated in accordance with the requirements of the Presidential Elections Act, Cap 179.

The exercise was presided over by Justice Byabakama Mugenyi Simon, Chairperson of the Electoral Commission and Returning Officer for Presidential Nominations.

The Commission says the presidential campaign period will officially begin on September 29, 2025, after the harmonisation of candidates’ campaign programmes.

Museveni, 81, has been in power since 1986. Seven candidates think he has had enough of Uganda and should not have chosen to run.

Addressing the press after his nomination, Muntu, Museveni’s former army chief, said the presence of peace, which Museveni boasts of, is not the absence of war, but justice.

You can have the army and intelligence service, and the police, but when you don’t have justice, then there is nothing – no peace,” he said.

Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine) paid tributes to Dr Kizza Besigye, Obed Lutale, Eddie Mutwe, among others, currently facing different charges, saying his presidential contest is for their freedom.

As was in the 2021 presidential (general) elections, Bobi Wine sent a message to the young people, urging them to come out in their big numbers and vote for change.

“We know Museveni doesn’t like listening to young people. Listen to your bush war comrade Gen. Kahinda Otaffire (Minister of Internal Affairs), Uganda was here and will be here long after you are gone,” the NUP candidate said.

On his part, Nandala promised to fix the economy and revive cooperative unions. Read more: Nandala Mafabi: ‘People are poor, I’ll fix the economy’

Ahead of the 2026 elections, Museveni and the NRM party already boast of over 2 million Ugandans who offered their signatures to nominate their candidate.

All indicators project Museveni to win the scheduled elections in January 2026, and for Bobi Wine, not contesting in this election primarily against a man he doesn’t want in power is a betrayal to those who offered their lives for freedom and change of government.