Uganda delays Bobi Wine’s presidential nomination to September 24 after signature controversy
On September 19, the electoral commission had stated that Kyagulanyi had not met the nomination requirements, noting that only 80 out of 130 districts had enough valid signatures, while 18 fell short.
Uganda's Electoral Commission has rescheduled the presidential nomination of opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, to September 24, 2025, at 2:00 p.m., a day after President Yoweri Museveni's nomination.
The change comes after Kyagulanyi received a nomination clearance certificate following the submission of the required supporter signatures by his National Unity Platform (NUP) party.
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On September 19, the electoral commission had stated that Kyagulanyi had not met the nomination requirements, noting that only 80 out of 130 districts had enough valid signatures, while 18 fell short.
NUP subsequently submitted additional signatures on September 20 and 21 to satisfy the Commission, though Kyagulanyi maintains that the earlier claims were politically motivated to frustrate his nomination.
Kyagulanyi had originally scheduled his nomination for September 23, planning two rallies: one at Katwe Grounds and another at Kaala Playground in Nateete.
"The ridiculous claims about us not submitting enough signatures were intended to push our date of nomination. The cowardly regime did not want us to be nominated on the same day as Museveni! Well, they just gave us our certificate confirming that we have submitted the signatures, but pushed our nomination to Wednesday, 24th September at 2:00 pm," Kyagulanyi said on X.
"This is despite the fact that we had written to them booking Tuesday, 10:00 am! Pushing it to 2:00 pm is clearly intended to frustrate our plans to have two rallies because the first one was meant to begin at midday."
Kyagulanyi added that, anticipating possible government interference, his party had booked both Katwe Grounds and Kaala Playground in Nateete for both the original and rescheduled nomination dates to ensure the rallies could proceed.
In a subsequent statement, he revealed that Ugandan authorities had refused to approve the Katwe rally.
"As predicted, they have cancelled our rally at Katwe and only cleared Nateete! That's why they had to push our nomination to 2:00 pm so that we do only one event. Regardless, we shall meet and speak to our people. Let's all meet at Kaala Playground, Nateete, on Wednesday!" he said.
A copy of the communique shared by Kyagulanyi, seen by The Eastleigh Voice, shows that the Ugandan Police Force cited the Katwe Grounds’ proximity to Katwe Market, its location under a high-voltage power line, its closeness to the busy Queensway section of Entebbe Road, and the railway line crossing it as reasons for denying the request.
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