Ugandan opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, has been cleared to run in the presidential election scheduled in January.
After Wednesday’s decision, Wine, a pop star-turned-politician, can once again challenge President Yoweri Museveni, who is seeking a record seventh term in office. The 81-year-old has ruled the country since 1986.
During the last election in 2021, Wine secured 35 percent of the vote while Museveni won with 58 percent – his poorest margin of victory since taking power.
After the result, Wine accused Museveni of ballot stuffing and fraud, and at least 54 people were killed while protesting against the outcome. Wine was placed under house arrest in the aftermath.
Wine’s National Unity Platform (NUP) party now has the largest number of seats among the opposition in parliament with much of its support coming from working-class communities in urban areas.
Museveni urged his supporters to back his vision for Uganda’s future after electoral officials announced his nomination near Kampala on Tuesday. A constitutional amendment in 2017 removed the presidential age limit of 75, allowing him to extend his rule.
