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Bobi Wine to Launch 2026 Campaign in Busoga after Buganda Elders’ Backing
Ugandan opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, widely known as Bobi Wine, will later today launch his 2026 presidential campaign in Jinja, the first stop in a week-long tour of eastern Uganda.
The National Unity Platform (NUP) leader is expected to unveil his manifesto before supporters, outlining pledges to overhaul governance, fight corruption and expand opportunities for the country’s youth.
His campaign schedule this week will take him to Buyende, Kamuli, Kaliro, Luuka, Bugweri, Namutumba, Mayuge, Iganga, Namayingo and Bugiri.
Kyagulanyi’s choice to start in eastern Uganda is seen as symbolic.
The region, often described as the cradle of poverty, faces some of the country’s highest unemployment rates, poor access to healthcare and persistent land disputes.
Development indices consistently show eastern districts trailing behind other regions in education and income levels, making it a critical battleground for political promises.
By launching his campaign there, Kyagulanyi is seeking to tap into long-standing frustrations among communities that say they have been left behind by decades of uneven development.
His message of change and empowerment is expected to resonate strongly with young people, who make up the majority of the population and are disproportionately affected by joblessness.
On Sunday night, Kyagulanyi hosted Buganda Kingdom elders at his home in Magere for a private dinner.
The group, led by former premier Joseph Mulwanyamuli Ssemwogerere, did not issue a public statement, but their tacit endorsement was viewed as highly symbolic.
Analysts said their presence carried political weight, reflecting a quiet show of confidence in his leadership.
Buganda has long been a political powerhouse in Uganda’s elections. In 2021, Kyagulanyi dominated the central region, winning overwhelming support across Buganda districts, which delivered him some of his highest vote margins. He also performed strongly in Busoga sub-region, where NUP scored above 50% in several constituencies, consolidating its base among disaffected youth and urban voters.
Bugisu, another eastern bloc with a history of vocal political activism, is also expected to be a key testing ground.
Historically, Bugisu has been a cradle of opposition politics, and Kyagulanyi’s early move to rally support there is being interpreted as an attempt to fuse Buganda’s cultural backing with eastern Uganda’s tradition of resistance politics.
The elders’ visit was possibly aimed at sending a strong signal of unity and belief in his vision for a transformed Uganda.
Kyagulanyi, a former pop star who challenged President Yoweri Museveni in 2021, has framed the 2026 election as a generational struggle against the 81-year-old incumbent, who has ruled since 1986.
