Supporters of Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine poured into streets on the outskirts of Kampala in fresh demonstrations of support ahead of the country’s Jan. 15, 2026 presidential election, as rights groups and the United Nations warn of an intensifying crackdown on dissent.
Wine — whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi and who leads the National Unity Platform (NUP) — is challenging President Yoweri Museveni, who has ruled Uganda since 1986 and is seeking what would be a seventh term after constitutional changes removed presidential term and age limits.
At the Kampala-area gathering, protesters said they were mobilising to press for generational change and better public services, citing frustration over unemployment, taxation and living costs. One supporter, Ruth Excellent Mirembe, said many young Ugandans feel unrepresented after decades under the same leadership, while another attendee, Conrad Olwenyi, complained of poor conditions in hospitals and schools.
The rallies come amid rising allegations of repression. Amnesty International has described security force tactics — including tear gas, beatings and other violence against opposition supporters — as a “brutal campaign of repression” ahead of the vote. The UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) has also warned of “widespread repression,” saying the pre-election environment has been marked by intimidation of opposition figures, civil society and journalists.
Wine has accused security agencies of arbitrarily arresting supporters and said some have been seized from their homes, urging backers to remain vigilant. Reuters previously reported the opposition saying hundreds of NUP supporters and officials had been detained since campaigning began.
The government rejects accusations of orchestrated political violence, but has tightened information controls as election day nears. On Jan. 5, Reuters reported Uganda banned live broadcasts of riots and “unlawful processions,” saying it was aimed at preventing panic and escalation.
Uganda’s election campaigns have repeatedly been marred by confrontations between security forces and opposition groups, and the coming days are expected to be tense as both sides intensify mobilisation.
