Uganda’s opposition leader and National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, has announced that he will not challenge the January 15, 2026 presidential election results in court, citing a deep lack of trust in Uganda’s judiciary.
Instead, the former pop star-turned-politician has urged his supporters to take to the streets in peaceful protest, saying legal avenues can no longer guarantee justice.
Speaking to the BBC from an undisclosed location, Bobi Wine said he remains defiant despite mounting security pressure and fears for his safety.
“The judiciary in Uganda is captured. We encourage Ugandans to use every legal means possible to fight back and protect their democracy,” he said.
President Yoweri Museveni, 81, was declared the landslide winner of the vote, securing 72%, while Bobi Wine finished second with 25%. Museveni has since accused the opposition of attempting to overturn the results through violence, branding their actions as acts of terrorism.But Bobi Wine insists the announced figures do not reflect what happened at polling stations.
“We reject these results because they are fake. They are completely different from what is on declaration forms at polling stations,” he told the BBC.
He further alleged ballot stuffing, though he did not provide specific evidence during the interview.
In a dramatic revelation, Bobi Wine disclosed that his home in Magere was surrounded by security forces, with his wife and relatives effectively under house confinement. He says food deliveries were blocked, prompting him to flee during a night raid on Friday.
He also warned of what he called a “silent massacre”, claiming political activists are being targeted in an ongoing crackdown.
While Ugandan authorities have not officially responded to his allegations, the Uganda Human Rights Commission stated that although technical and procedural challenges were observed on polling day, they did not substantially undermine the overall credibility of the election.
Meanwhile, African Union election observers reported seeing no evidence of ballot stuffing, but criticized the days-long internet shutdown that was only lifted hours after Museveni’s victory was announced.
This marks the second time Bobi Wine has declined to pursue a court challenge. After the 2021 elections, he withdrew his petition, citing judicial bias and lack of impartiality.
Now, after another disputed defeat, Bobi Wine says the struggle continues but this time, on the streets rather than in court.
