Bobi Wine Dismisses Museveni’s Allegations of Election Fraud, Calls for International Audit

National Unity Platform (NUP) leader Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, has strongly refuted President Yoweri Museveni’s recent claims that NUP rigged more than a million votes in the 2021 general election. Museveni made these allegations while presiding over the final day of the Defence and Security Expo 2024 at Speke Resort Munyonyo in Kampala on September 12, 2024.

“I now have all the evidence that in the last election, NUP cheated by one million votes. I have the facts. NUP can take me to court,” Museveni declared during the expo, which was held in honor of the late Gen. Aronda Nyakairima, the former Chief of Defence Forces.

Responding to these claims, Kyagulanyi addressed the media on September 16 at NUP’s headquarters in Makerere Kavule. He dismissed the allegations as baseless and called for an international audit of the 2021 election, supervised by the United Nations, daring Museveni to pursue his case in court.

“These statements by Gen. Museveni are utterly shameless, especially when made in honor of a distinguished figure like Gen. Aronda Nyakairima (RIP). My first instinct was to forgive him. But now, I challenge him to subject himself to an international audit,” Kyagulanyi said.

He also questioned Museveni’s actions regarding the Electoral Commission (EC), asking, “If he truly believes he was cheated out of a million votes, why does he still keep Justice Simon Byabakama as the EC chairperson? Why not fire him?”

Accompanied by senior NUP leaders and supporters, Kyagulanyi revealed that he had sent a letter to Museveni listing 22 charges against him. He challenged the president to relinquish his presidential immunity so they could face each other in court.

In the 2021 general election, Kyagulanyi lost to Museveni, who secured over six million votes (58.38%) compared to Kyagulanyi’s 3.6 million votes (35%).

NUP’s Response to the Formation of a New Political Party

During the same event, NUP leadership addressed the Electoral Commission’s decision to delay the registration of the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) as a political party. The PFF is backed by allies of former Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) leader Dr. Kizza Besigye, particularly those who have distanced themselves from FDC over claims of irregular party financing during the 2021 elections, allegedly by the National Resistance Movement (NRM).

On September 4, 2024, the EC responded to an August 27 request from affiliates of the FDC breakaway, explaining that the proposed name, People’s Front for Freedom, was too similar to an already reserved name, People Power Front (PPF), potentially causing public confusion.

However, NUP Secretary-General Lewis Rubongoya made it clear that NUP was not connected to the reservation of the PPF name. “The slogan ‘People Power, Our Power’ was also reserved, and we have written to the EC requesting the immediate revocation of this reservation,” Rubongoya stated. He accused government loyalists of orchestrating such maneuvers to undermine the Opposition and warned that these actions risk tarnishing the EC’s impartiality.

Joel Ssenyonyi, the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, urged NUP leadership not to be distracted by what he called deliberate efforts by the government to undermine the party. “We are a formidable force by the grace of God, and that’s why they continue to attack us with propaganda. It’s a sign that we are growing. Let us remain focused,” Ssenyonyi encouraged the group.