KAMPALA – The Electoral Commission (EC) has officially cleared National Unity Platform (NUP) leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, widely known as Bobi Wine, for nomination as a candidate in Uganda’s 2026 presidential election, ending days of uncertainty over whether he had met the legal threshold for supporters. A certificate issued by EC chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama on September 19 confirmed that Kyagulanyi had submitted valid lists of at least 100 registered voters from at least two-thirds of Uganda’s districts, in compliance with Section 10 (1)(b) and (3) of the Presidential Elections Act. The clearance follows NUP’s resubmission of thousands of signatures over the weekend after the initial list was partially rejected. NUP Secretary-General David Lewis Rubongoya said the party’s efforts were vindicated by the EC’s verification outcome. 

“This is a victory for the people who turned up in massive numbers to endorse our candidate. We are now ready for nomination,” he said, adding that the party had already paid the Shs 20 million nomination fee and booked venues for post-nomination rallies at Katwe and Kaala playgrounds.

According to a formal notice from the EC, Kyagulanyi is scheduled to appear for nomination on Wednesday, September 24, at 2:00 p.m. The party has confirmed that it will hold a grand rally immediately afterward to officially launch its 2026 campaign.

However, the EC has warned that processions to and from the nomination venue are banned and that each aspirant is allowed to appear with only two authorized persons.

Justice Byabakama urged political parties to comply with the directive, saying it was necessary to maintain security and public order during the nomination period. 

The clearance caps a tense week in which NUP accused the EC of frustrating its efforts to meet the nomination requirements.

Political observers say the episode has energised Kyagulanyi’s supporters, who view the back-and-forth as evidence of the challenges facing opposition parties ahead of the polls.

By ChimpReports