National Unity Platform (NUP) president Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, has accused state operatives and electoral authorities of orchestrating the disqualification of another opposition candidate contesting against State Minister for Agriculture Bright Rwamirama in Isingiro North Constituency.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Kyagulanyi claimed that Ntanda Shalif, the NUP candidate for Isingiro North, had been “denominated” from the race, just a day after the alleged disqualification of the district’s Woman Member of Parliament candidate from the same party.
According to Kyagulanyi, the move followed weeks of pressure on the candidate to step down, including alleged offers of large sums of money. He said that after Ntanda reportedly refused to withdraw, “regime operatives” turned to what he described as intimidation and manipulation of the nomination process.
Kyagulanyi further alleged that two individuals who had signed Ntanda’s nomination papers were abducted and forced to recant their signatures, creating grounds for the candidate’s removal from the race.
“This impunity is unprecedented,” Kyagulanyi said, arguing that the developments reflected a broader pattern of repression against opposition candidates ahead of the 2026 general elections. He called on Ugandans to remain vigilant and mobilise against what he described as growing electoral injustice.
Bright Rwamirama, a long-serving legislator and minister, has not publicly responded to the allegations. Electoral authorities had also not immediately commented on the claims by press time.
Wider opposition concerns
The allegations come amid mounting complaints by the opposition over the conduct of the electoral process. In separate statements, Kyagulanyi also raised concerns about alleged irregularities in the voters’ register, claiming that some individuals had been registered multiple times at different polling stations.
He questioned the effectiveness of biometric voter verification systems, arguing that if duplicate registrations already exist in the register, the technology could still allow multiple voting. Kyagulanyi urged the Electoral Commission to release the final national voters’ register to enable independent scrutiny.
Campaign trail
Meanwhile, Kyagulanyi said he had continued his nationwide campaign, including rallies in Buvuma District, where he reiterated NUP’s policy position on demilitarising Uganda’s lakes.
He accused security forces of abusing fishing communities under the guise of enforcement and called on voters to use the ballot to end what he termed “criminality and economic exclusion”.
The NUP leader urged supporters to back the party across all electoral levels, framing the upcoming polls as a decisive moment for political change in Uganda.
