Uganda’s main opposition party, National Unity Platform (NUP) has rejected the presidential election results announced by the Electoral Commission (EC) on January 15, 2026.
In a statement on February 4, 2026, NUP ruled out filing a petition at the Supreme Court, citing a lack of confidence in the Judiciary.
NUP leaders issued the statement on Wednesday at the party headquarters in Makerere-Kavule, in the absence of their party leader and presidential flag bearer, Mr Robert Kyagulanyi, alias Bobi Wine.
The leaders assured party supporters that Bobi Wine is safe although he is being hunted by the current regime but he will appear publicly at the right time.
At the same time, NUP Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya encouraged party candidates who lost in the elections and have evidence of rigging to pursue remedies in the courts.
“All leaders who feel they were rigged should go to court for redress,” said Rubongoya.
He added that he was also planning to seek a remedy in court over his stolen victory, even if, as a party, they don’t have confidence in the judicial system.
The NUP secretary general emphasized that filing petitions in courts would help keep the evidence of vote rigging on record.
“We gave our supporters four steps: look for the vote, go and vote, protect it, and if rigged, demand it. We know we were rigged at the presidential level, and we are demanding through various ways,” he said.
“In High Courts, we might get one or two sober judges, but in the Supreme Court, there is no chance. That is why we are not petitioning this time,” he added.
The presidential election results were announced on January 15,2026 by Electoral Commission chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama, who declared President Museveni, 81, winner with 71.65 percent of the vote.
Bobi Wine emerged second with 24.72 percent, while Mr Nandala Mafabi of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) got 1.88 percent in third position.
Similarly, other presidential candidates have also ruled out court action, though they allege irregularities and violations during the elections.
NUP also demanded that the Electoral Commission produce the declaration forms (DR forms) used to announce Mr Museveni as the winner.
“The Presidential Elections Act says all parties and independents must have DR forms from districts. We asked where they got theirs,” said Mr Joel Ssenyonyi, the NUP spokesperson.
