Africa-Press – Uganda. The Leader of Opposition in Parliament and Nakawa West MP, Joel Ssenyonyi, has called on security agencies not to disrupt the National Unity Platform (NUP) as the party begins collecting signatures nationwide in preparation for the 2026 presidential elections.
Ssenyonyi said the exercise is a constitutional requirement necessary for nominating Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, as NUP’s presidential candidate.
He noted that the signature drive will span multiple districts as outlined by the Electoral Commission and urged authorities to allow the process to proceed without intimidation or interference.
“We are reaching out to Ugandans in various districts to secure the signatures needed for our presidential candidate’s nomination. This is a lawful activity, and we appeal to security agencies not to disrupt us as we carry out this exercise,” Ssenyonyi said.
During the 2021 nomination process, Kyagulanyi and the NUP faced significant interference while collecting signatures.
Security forces reportedly blocked access to certain districts, harassed local coordinators and volunteers, and disrupted gatherings meant to mobilize support.
Administrative hurdles at the Electoral Commission, including delays in registering volunteers and booking venues, further complicated the process.
Despite these challenges, NUP successfully gathered the required signatures to clear Bobi Wine’s nomination.
According to the Electoral Commission’s guidelines, presidential aspirants are required to collect at least 100 signatures from registered voters in each of at least 98 districts across the country, totaling a minimum of 9,800 signatures.
These endorsements must be submitted to the Commission’s headquarters in Lweeza between September 9 and 22, ahead of the official nomination dates scheduled for September 23 and 24.
He also highlighted NUP’s ongoing campaign, “A New Uganda Now”, which seeks to mobilize citizens around political change and national renewal.
“Our message is clear: we want a new Uganda that works for everyone. We are asking all Ugandans to take part in this campaign because the change we seek requires collective effort,” he added.
Since 2021, Robert Kyagulanyi has been a prominent opposition challenger to President Museveni, particularly popular among young Ugandans.
As the 2026 general elections approach, NUP’s signature collection and other activities are expected to attract close attention from both supporters and state authorities.
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