Bobi Wine Faces Disqualification Over Insufficient Signatures

Ugandan opposition leader and National Unity Platform (NUP) president Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, is facing possible disqualification from the 2026 presidential race after the Electoral Commission (EC) raised concerns over alleged insufficient endorsement signatures Love Radio reports.

According to preliminary reports, Bobi Wine Faces Disqualification because the EC claims that several of the signatures submitted by Bobi Wine’s team do not meet the constitutional requirement, which mandates presidential aspirants to present verified endorsements from at least 100 registered voters in two-thirds of Uganda’s districts. Sources within the Commission suggest that some signatures were duplicated, while others belonged to individuals not found in the national voters’ register.

EC spokesperson Paul Bukenya stated, “The verification process is still ongoing, but we have identified significant gaps in the submissions. If the candidate fails to meet the threshold, the law is very clear — such a nomination cannot be accepted.”

The development has sparked a storm within Uganda’s political scene, with NUP officials dismissing the claims as a deliberate attempt to block their leader from contesting. Party Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya argued that all signatures were collected transparently and accused the EC of acting under political pressure.

“This is nothing but a witch-hunt,” Rubongoya told reporters. “Our candidate enjoys overwhelming support across the country. We are confident that we have met and even surpassed the legal requirements.”

Political analysts warn that the standoff could fuel tensions as Uganda gears up for a heated election season. Bobi Wine, who emerged as the strongest challenger to President Yoweri Museveni in the 2021 election, has consistently accused the government of using state institutions to curtail opposition.

The EC is expected to announce its final decision on the matter within the coming weeks. If disqualified, Bobi Wine’s supporters say they will consider the move an attack on democracy, while ruling party officials argue that the law must be applied equally to all aspirants.

The standoff sets the stage for yet another contentious electoral cycle in Uganda, with the question of fairness once again taking center stage.

Written by admin