Bobi Wine Rules Out Court Challenge to Museveni’s 2026 Victory, Calls for Peaceful Protests

Uganda’s opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, has said he will not challenge President Yoweri Museveni’s declared victory in the 2026 presidential election through the courts, citing what he described as a deep lack of confidence in the country’s judiciary.

In remarks to the BBC, Bobi Wine said pursuing a legal petition would not deliver justice, arguing that past electoral challenges have shown the courts to be unwilling or unable to act independently in politically sensitive cases. Instead, the National Unity Platform (NUP) leader urged his supporters to take to the streets in peaceful protest to express their dissatisfaction with the election outcome.

“I do not believe that the courts, as currently constituted, can give Ugandans justice in matters of elections,” Bobi Wine said, according to the BBC.

He added that the decision not to go to court should not be interpreted as acceptance of the results, but rather as a rejection of what he called a “rigged process” upheld by compromised institutions.

The announcement marks a significant departure from previous election cycles, in which opposition candidates have routinely filed petitions challenging Museveni’s victories.

Museveni, who has been in power since 1986, was declared the winner of the January 2026 poll by the Electoral Commission, extending his decades-long rule.

Bobi Wine’s call for peaceful demonstrations comes amid heightened political tension and a heavy security presence in several parts of the country. Authorities have repeatedly warned against public protests, often citing public order and security concerns.

In past elections, similar calls for demonstrations have been met with arrests, deployment of security forces and restrictions on movement and communication.

Government officials have consistently defended the judiciary as independent and professional, and have rejected claims of electoral fraud.

The Electoral Commission has also maintained that the 2026 elections were free and fair, a position disputed by opposition parties and some civil society groups.

For Bobi Wine and his supporters, the focus now shifts from the courtroom to the streets. He has emphasized that any protests should remain peaceful, warning against violence and destruction of property.

“Our struggle is for freedom and justice, and it must be conducted peacefully,” he said.How the government will respond to the opposition’s new strategy remains to be seen, but the decision not to pursue a court challenge signals a new phase in Uganda’s long-running post-election standoffs, with potential implications for political stability and civil liberties in the months ahead.