Bobi Wine accuses Museveni regime of blocking NUP youth from special elections

Uganda's opposition leader, Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, has called out President Yoweri Museveni's government for allegedly conspiring to bar National Unity Platform (NUP) youth from participating in the country's upcoming special interest group elections.

The June 19 polls, which will be conducted at the village level, will see Ugandans vote for representatives of the youth, older persons, and persons with disabilities (PWDs).

Speaking on Tuesday, Kyagulanyi asserted that government officials, including Electoral Commission staff, frustrated and blocked NUP youth candidates in 80 per cent of Uganda's over 140 districts.

"Our youth were blocked by Electoral Commission officials, Resident District Commissioners (RDCs), District Internal Security Officers (DISOs), and GISOs," he said.

He also claimed that in some areas, some candidates were barred from submitting nomination papers through intimidation by hired goons.

"In Kampala alone, they blocked most NUP candidates while facilitating National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidates to nominate successfully. In some areas, goons were hired to beat our candidates and chase them from nomination venues."

In a subsequent post on X, Kyagulanyi implied that Ugandan authorities are unlikely to address the electoral injustices while urging Ugandans to turn their frustration into action by using the 2026 election as a protest against President Museveni's regime.

"We've formally complained—not because we expect positive results, but to be on record. That is why the 2026 election must be a protest vote," he said.

According to the Daily Monitor, large numbers of youth were left outside the Kawempe Division Electoral Commission offices on Tuesday, with some being turned away before they could submit their nomination papers.

Frustrated and defeated, several were seen destroying their documents.

"Our youths were turned down without reason. We've spent two days coming to the EC offices. What's worse is that NRM candidates were helped with ease. We request the EC to do its job as prescribed in the law," said a NUP Registrar.

This incident follows recent crackdowns on NUP youth meetings in Jinja and Mityana, developments that the opposition argues reflect a strategic campaign to stifle political competition ahead of the next general election.

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