Bobi Wine Vows to Run for President in Uganda Again Next Year 'If I Am Still Alive'

The musician turned opposition leader Bobi Wine has told the Guardian he will stand again against Uganda's authoritarian leader, Yoweri Museveni, in next year's presidential elections.

- Tracy McVeigh

The musician turned opposition leader Bobi Wine has told the Guardian he will stand again against Uganda's authoritarian leader, Yoweri Museveni, in next year's presidential elections. Despite being jailed, attacked, shot and facing threats of violence, including from Museveni's son, Wine said he felt he had little choice but to try to advance the hope for change that was energising Ugandans, especially the young.

"We cannot just give the election to General Museveni," he said, in an interview with the Guardian. "While I am here speaking to you, I don't know if I'll be in jail next week. If I am still alive and not in jail by the end of this year, then I'm going to run for presidency, again."

The leader of the National Unity Platform (NUP) party, Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, said he expected the January 2026 election, in which Museveni has said he will stand for a seventh term in office, to be bloody.

But, with 80% of the Ugandan population under the age of 35, Wine believes change can come.

"Young people are so hopeful because they see the possibility," he said. "Ultimately the good will of the people is what is important for this election and for our campaign. They know if you are not given freedom, you don't have a life.

"I think I stir a lot of hope because I don't shut my big mouth, and that's a big challenge to the regime."