• Electoral Commission rejects part of NUP’s signatures, leaving 18 districts short of legal requirements for Bobi Wine’s nomination.
  • Bobi Wine accuses EC and state operatives of intimidation and partisan actions against his supporters.
  • Nomination deadline set for September 23, 2025, with NUP racing to secure fresh verified signatures.

The Electoral Commission (EC) has rejected part of the signatures submitted by the National Unity Platform (NUP) to support the presidential nomination of Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine.

According to an EC notice dated Thursday, September 19, 2025, the NUP flag bearer has so far completed the required supporter verification in only 80 districts.

This therefore leaves 18 districts pending as the law requires presidential aspirants to submit signatures from at least 98 districts or cities across Uganda. This is with a minimum of 100 registered voters per district.

According to the EC, NUP failed to meet this threshold in several districts, despite the Makerere Kavule based party claiming it had submitted more than the required numbers.

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Districts flagged as incomplete include Alebtong, Amuru, Bukwo, Dokolo, Gulu City, Gomba, Iganga, Kakumiro, Kamwenge, Moyo, Nakapiripirit, Ntungamo, Pader, Rubanda, Rubirizi, Rwampara, Shema, Sironko, Soroti, Terego, Yumbe, Kanungu, Kapchorwa, Kitagwenda, Koboko, Lira, Mbarara, Omoro, and Pallisa, among others.

In response, Bobi Wine has expressed strong dissatisfaction with the process. He accused the EC of acting in a partisan manner.

“In the most partisan manner, the Electoral Commission is indicating that we haven’t submitted enough signatures for my nomination as President. This is after submitting more than enough signatures per district! The same Commission shamelessly claims Museveni submitted more than enough signatures,” Bobi Wine wrote on social media.

He further alleged that local government security operatives such as GISOs, DISOs, and RDCs were intimidating voters who had endorsed him.

“These criminals have been calling and threatening our supporters, forcing them to deny having signed for us. The EC then removes them from the list. It’s shameful and unacceptable,” he added.

With the official nomination set for Tuesday, September 23, 2025, Bobi Wine has now called upon registered voters from the affected districts to report to the NUP headquarters at Makerere-Kavule between 8:00 am and 11:00 am tomorrow to reaffirm their support with fresh signatures.

It should be noted that Uganda’s Presidential Elections Act requires every aspirant to present verified signatures from at least 2% of registered voters from not less than 98 districts or cities before being officially nominated. This requirement is apparently aimed at ensuring that only candidates with large national support contest for the presidency.

For now, it’s not clear whether Bobi Wine and NUP will be able to collect the required signatures and beat the deadline which is a few days from now .