Jailed Besigye sends financial support to Bobi Wine’s campaign
By Kenneth Mwenda, January 11, 2026Ugandan opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, has received financial support from veteran activist Kizza Besigye, who remains in prison as the country prepares for its presidential election on January 15, 2026.
Besigye, who has been detained for more than a year on treason charges, arranged for his wife, Winnie Byanyima, to hand over an undisclosed amount of money to support Bobi Wine’s final campaign activities. The handover took place at Besigye’s home in Kasangati, north of Kampala, during a gathering attended by supporters on Sunday, January 11, 2026.
Byanyima addressed those present before giving the money directly to Bobi Wine. She said Besigye asked her to deliver a message after visiting him in prison on Friday, January 9, 2026. In a video shared widely on social media, she explained that Besigye earns no income while in detention and cannot work, but friends have helped him raise funds.
“He told me to collect the money and give it to you for the last push of the campaign,” Byanyima said, addressing Bobi Wine. She added that Besigye sent his best wishes and acknowledged the difficult conditions under which the opposition is operating.
Opposition leaders unite
The gesture marks an important moment of unity within Uganda’s opposition. Besigye and Bobi Wine were once rivals. Besigye contested against President Yoweri Museveni in four elections between 2001 and 2016, while Bobi Wine entered national politics later and challenged Museveni in the 2021 election.
Their rivalry often caused tension among opposition supporters, but recent years have seen increased cooperation as pressure on opposition figures has grown.
Besigye’s continued detention gives added weight to the development. Authorities arrested him in November 2024 after he was returned from neighbouring Kenya. Prosecutors later charged him with treason in February 2025, an offence that carries the death penalty under Ugandan law. Courts have denied him bail several times, despite his lengthy time in custody.
Bobi Wine has built his campaign around promises to create jobs, reduce presidential powers, and end police brutality. He continues to attract large crowds, especially young people frustrated by unemployment and restrictions on political freedoms. However, his campaign has faced repeated disruptions, including arrests of supporters, violence, and limits on public rallies.
The election comes amid heightened political tension, with President Museveni seeking a seventh term after nearly four decades in power. Rights groups and opposition leaders have raised concerns about the fairness of the process.