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Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu’s (Bobi Wine’s) post-nomination speech in Nateete offers more than a fiery soundbite—it provides a window into the opposition’s strategy heading into the 2026 elections.
By openly acknowledging the risks of repression—tear gas, arrests, torture, and even death—Bobi Wine speaks directly to the fears of his supporters. Instead of downplaying the dangers, he reframes them as a necessary sacrifice in the broader struggle for freedom. This approach is calculated to both inspire courage and strengthen solidarity among those who may feel demoralized by years of state intimidation.
His declaration that “the alternative is giving up, and that is 10 times worse” signals that the NUP is positioning itself as the moral vanguard of resistance, emphasizing that disengagement only benefits the status quo. In doing so, Bobi Wine seeks to prevent voter apathy—a recurring challenge in Uganda where skepticism over the credibility of elections often suppresses turnout.
The timing of the message is also significant. Delivered immediately after nomination, it frames his candidacy not as an individual achievement but as a collective victory for Ugandans who “risk it all” in pursuit of change. By drawing crowds in Nateete despite heavy security deployment, he demonstrated his ability to mobilize popular support under pressure, a key advantage in building momentum ahead of the campaign period.
However, the speech also underlines the uphill battle NUP faces. President Museveni’s nearly four-decade rule has entrenched a political system dominated by the National Resistance Movement (NRM), with opposition parties routinely restricted. The state’s use of security forces against opposition rallies is well-documented, and Bobi Wine’s acknowledgment of that reality is both a warning and a rallying cry.
In essence, Bobi Wine’s message is one of defiance: acknowledging the dangers, refusing to be cowed, and challenging Ugandans to see participation not as futility, but as duty. Whether this framing will be enough to translate into votes—or withstand state pressure during the campaign season—remains the central question as the 2026 race begins to take shape.
