The National Unity Platform’s presidential candidate, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, opened his New Year’s Day address with a catalogue of human rights violations by President Museveni’s government, warning Ugandans that they are confronting what he described as a “monster” ahead of the January 15, 2026 elections.
“In the past year, we have lost so many of our people,” said Bobi Wine, who delivered his address a day after Mr Museveni addressed the nation.
He named prominent Ugandans who had died in 2025, starting with party member Mohammad Ssegirinya, who died months after being freed from prison and Alaxandria Marios, another NUP member who was tortured by security forces and fled the country.
Bobi Wine also mentioned Voice of America journalist Shaka Ssali and Sudhir Raparelia’s son Rajiv, among others. Mr Ssali died of natural causes in March and Rajiv was killed in a road accident in May.
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“In East Africa, we lost Raila Odinga. That great man will always remain an immortal symbol of African resistance to oppression,” he said.
“He taught generations that the price of silence will always be greater than any suffering the dictators may inflict on the people that are opposing them.”
Bobi Wine then turned to Ugandans who have been abducted and tortured or disappeared. He said others had been “simply threatened into silence just for supporting the struggle for a new Uganda”.
Among those who have been tortured is his body guard, Eddie Mutwe, whom he said was abducted on April 27, 2025 and had been “personally tortured by dictator Yoweri Museveni’s son Muhoozi Kainerugaba”.
General Keinerugaba posted on X last year to say he was holding Eddie Mutwe in his basement.
Others detained in Kitalya Prison without trial, Bobi Wine said, are Machete Yasin and Ashraf Kalanzi, both NUP supporters.
He said the list had grown longer with the detention of NUP’s deputy spokesperson, Alex Waiswa Mufumbiro, Olivia Lutaaya, Achileo Kivumbi, Bobi Giant, Bobi Young, Doreen Kaija and Sam Mugumya, a former aide of Dr Kizza Besigye whom Bobi Wine said was still missing.
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Bobi Wine also spoke about the arrest and detention of Sarah Bireete, who heads the Centre for Constitutional Governance and has been outspokenly critical of the army’s involvement in the forthcoming elections.
About Dr Besigye’s detention, he said the judge hearing his case had denied him bail saying Dr Besigye had to tell the court whether he is guilty or not guilty. Dr Besigye and his friend, Abed Lutale, were abducted in Nairobi in November 2024 and brought back to Uganda.
“Many of our people carry physical and mental scars from unlawful detention and brutality,” said Bobi Wine whose address was covered by a bevy of reporters.
“We stand with them, and we continue to help and support them whenever we can.”
He said that “with all this impunity”, Ugandans “realise the size and nature of the monster that we must bring down come 15th January 2026.”
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