Ugandan opposition and National Unity Platform Party (NUP) leader Robert Kyagulanyi, alias Bobi Wine has decried the increased trend of disqualification of opposition candidates from the national general election slated for January 2026.

In a statement on his Facebook page on Wednesday, December 24, 2025, Wine lamented the nullification of their candidate for the Isingiro Women MP seat, Resty Kyarimpra, by the country’s electoral body.

Electoral commission

The opposition has specifically criticised Electoral Commission chairman Simon Byabakama for flouting rules to implement directives he claims came from the government—despite the commission’s role as an impartial umpire.

“Whatever Byabakama is looking for, he will definitely get! Museveni is out there trying to buy out as many NUP candidates as possible, and those who refuse are being illegally denominated by Byabakama. He has now denominated our Isingiro Woman MP candidate, Kyarimpa Resty. Reason? He claims that one individual supported Resty’s nomination twice and yet the Electoral Commission uses a computerised system that cannot allow one person to support the nomination of one candidate twice,” part of Wine’s statement read.

“The system cannot even allow one individual to support the nomination of two candidates. Resty was initially approached and offered hundreds of millions of shillings to drop out of the race, and she refused. These are clear, clear violations that have continued to happen under the watch of a weakened, compromised judiciary.

Other nullifications

The recent disqualification continues the trend that has seen several opposition candidates ultimately barred from contesting the national polls.

Musician Mathias Walukagga, the NUP candidate for the Busiro East constituency parliamentary seat, and Rebecaa Abedican are others who have been subjected to a similar fate.

Meanwhile, on November 18, 2025, NUP’s Mercy Rebecca Abedican from the Nebbi Woman MP race was similarly thrown out by the National Electoral Body after the discovery of forged nomination signatures, leaving Phiona Nyamutoro of Museveni’s NRM to consolidate yet another uncontested parliamentary victory.

The allegations come after Wine issued a stern ultimatum to the Ugandan electoral body on Sunday, December 14, 2025.

In a statement on his X page, he challenged the commission to take charge of the electoral process or leave office with immediate effect.

“There is clear evidence that the criminal regime is recruiting and training a militia to terrorise citizens in the coming days! These are Special Police Constables (SPCs)—provided for in the law and paid with taxpayers’ money.”

Speak out or leave!

Wine has called for the electoral body to break its silence and speak on the blatant violations of electoral laws, failure to which they must vacate office.

“We must reject this criminality outright. Byabakama must publicly state the Electoral Commission’s position on these blatant violations before the situation worsens! Every day, we lodge formal complaints about these crimes, yet the electoral body remains silent. They must take full charge of the electoral process—or resign. #ProtestVote2026 will be our opportunity to end this madness once and for all,” he added.