Uganda’s opposition leader Bobi Wine has warned that he will mobilise nationwide protests if President Yoweri Museveni manipulates this week’s presidential election, as more than 20 million Ugandans are set to vote on Thursday.
Speaking to AFP, Wine said the opposition has repeatedly cautioned that any electoral fraud would be met with public demonstrations. He added that supporters have been urged to closely safeguard the vote, describing the election as a “protest vote.”
President Museveni, 81, is widely expected to secure another term, extending his nearly 40-year rule, bolstered by his grip on state institutions and the security apparatus. His main rival is Wine, 43, a musician-turned-politician contesting the presidency for a second time after his 2021 bid was overshadowed by violence and allegations of electoral misconduct.
Wine maintained that the opposition enjoys broad popular backing but expressed doubts over whether power would be peacefully handed over. He said the question of change ultimately rests with the public, the international community, and Museveni, whom he accused of retaining power through force.
International rights organisations, including the United Nations and Amnesty International, have accused Ugandan authorities of suppressing dissent ahead of the vote, pointing to arrests of opposition supporters. While acknowledging that protests could provoke further violence, Wine stressed that non-violence remains central to his strategy, noting that even repressive regimes have been overturned through sustained public protests.
Despite the tense political climate, large and predominantly young crowds have continued to rally behind Wine in the capital, Kampala, highlighting broader frustration across East Africa over narrowing democratic space and limited economic prospects.
