The Electoral Commission (EC) has notified the National Unity Platform (NUP) that its presidential candidate, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, has not met the requirement of submitting sufficient signatures to back his nomination ahead of the 2026 general elections.
According to the Commission, several of the signatures NUP submitted from across the country were either invalidated or withdrawn after purported signatories denied endorsing Kyagulanyi’s candidacy. The EC insists this left the party short of the minimum requirement for nomination.
Kyagulanyi, however, has strongly disputed the Commission’s position, accusing it of acting in a partisan manner. “In the most partisan manner, the Electoral Commission is indicating that we haven’t submitted enough signatures for my nomination as President from the Districts listed below. This, after submitting more than enough signatures per district! The same Commission is indicating that Museveni submitted more than enough signatures,” Kyagulanyi said in a statement.
The opposition leader, also known as Bobi Wine, alleged that state operatives—including GISOs, DISOs, and RDCs—had been intimidating citizens who endorsed him. “They have been reaching out to all those who signed for us, threatening them. Then the EC says it called them and they denied having signed for us and therefore removed them from the list. Criminals!” he charged.
To address the shortfall, Kyagulanyi has called on registered voters from more than 30 districts—including Alebtong, Bushenyi, Gulu City, Ntungamo, Soroti, Yumbe, and Mbarara—to present themselves at NUP headquarters in Makerere-Kavule on Saturday, September 20, to provide fresh signatures.
“Our nomination is on Tuesday, 23rd September 2025,” Kyagulanyi emphasized, urging his supporters not to be discouraged. He also rallied his base under the hashtag #ProtestVote2026, framing the standoff as yet another attempt to undermine his candidacy.
The development sets the stage for heightened political tension as Uganda prepares for next year’s elections. With just days left before nominations close, NUP faces a race against time to secure the endorsements needed to keep Kyagulanyi on the ballot against President Yoweri Museveni, who has already been cleared by the EC.