Bobi’s 2026 Sole Candidacy: Mpuuga Criticizes NUP Leader’s Authoritarian Tendencies
“I will stand again for President in 2026,” the National Unity Platform (NUP) President, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu aka Bobi Wine, told the Sunday Monitor in an Interview. However, his declaration has been met with scepticism.
The Former Leader of Opposition (LoP) Mathias Mpuuga has questioned the basis of Bobi’s candidacy, pointing out that he was not cleared by any party organ.
The suspended deputy president for Buganda region who played a pivotal role in the formative stages of the youngest political party in Uganda, echoed his concerns were on KFM’s political talk show yesterday, where he wondered how Bobi could declare himself a candidate without exploring internal party democracy.
“He [Kyagulanyi] has declared himself a candidate. I don’t know which forum of the party actually elected him to be a candidate,” Mpuuga said.
Mpuuga emphasized that Bobi’s actions undermine the principles of democracy, asking, “How do you declare yourself a candidate without a party organ sitting and declaring you one? Are you intimidating others? Are you trying to suggest that you are a sole candidate of the party? Are you circumventing party processes?”
No Moral Locus
Mpuuga asserted that Bobi has since lost the capacity to speak about morality and values, citing his own lack of these qualities.
“I think, he [Kyagulanyi] has no reason to speak about morality and values. He has lost the capacity to speak about values with his political method. How do you declare yourself a candidate without a party organ sitting and declaring you one?” Mpuuga asserted.
Musevenism
Mpuuga said, “you have [the ruling] NRM having [president] Museveni as a sole candidate, so you have a Kyagulanyi a sole candidate [for NUP].”
No Party Constitution
Mpuuga who minced no words, confirmed that to this date, the NUP which preaches democracy and a new Uganda, has no constitution to guide its operations.
“With a party that has no constitution in space, you call any leader or MP of NUP, and ask them to share with you the party constitution,”
The NUP leader’s actions have also raised concerns about the party’s structure and governance.
“These are some of the issues I was challenging them when I was part of them actively, and they failed to produce one. I told them to make a constitution, they fiddled the current constitution.” Mpuuga said.
Analyst Weighs in
Mpuuga’s criticism is rooted in the importance of democratic processes within political parties.
When party presidents declare themselves presidential candidates without proper procedures, it raises a major red flag about “authoritarianism and disregard for internal democracy.”
“The behaviour is characteristic of authoritarian leaders who prioritize personal power over democratic principles,” a political analyst who pleaded for anonymity said, “it suggests that the individual is more interested in consolidating their own power than in following established rules and procedures.”
He added, “this kind of move can be seen as a step towards dictatorship, where one person holds absolute power without effective constitutional limitations. Dictators often resort to force, fraud, or manipulation to gain and maintain power, suppressing basic civil liberties and opposition in in the process.”
In the context of political parties, the political analyst asserted, “declaring oneself a candidate without going through the proper channels can indicate a disregard for internal democracy and the will of party members. It may also signal a desire to dominate the party and eliminate potential rivals.”
Mpuuga’s criticism has sparked speculation about the potential repercussions for his party membership. However, he told the KFM that remains unapologetic, stating, “I was part of NUP building processes, and I made NUP what it is. I owe NUP, NUP owes me.”
Mpuuga’s bold stance has ignited debate about internal party democracy and the implications of Bobi Wine’s candidacy.
As the 2026 elections approach, Ugandans will be watching closely to see how NUP’s internal dynamics play out. Will Bobi Wine’s candidacy be challenged from within, or will he emerge as the party’s undisputed flagbearer? Only time will tell.