UGABNDA: FORUM FOR DEMOCRATIC CHANGE (FDC), ALLIANCE FOR NATIONAL TRANSFORMATION (ANT), UNITED TO SUPPORT NUP.

Uganda Opposition parties united behind National Unity Platform, Party President Robert Kyagulanyi, formed a single Party ahead of the January 15, 2026, election. Since 2005, when Uganda has had a multiparty referendum, President Museveni has been sponsoring clandestine opposition to run against him, to show the Western world that Uganda have a legitimate democracy. However, his luck ran out this time, as Ugandans will rally behind Robert Kyagulanyi

Dr.  Kizza Besigye, while still in Luzira Prison facing treason charges, endorsed and financially supported the NUP party President Robert Kyagulanyi, aka Bobi Wine, through his wife Winne Byanyima. The support was shown at a prayer and solidarity event that doubled as a show of unity among Uganda’s Opposition ahead of the January 15, 2026, election.

KAMPALA, UGANDA-MONDAY, January 12, 2026. 

By Our Correspondent, Okumu Livingstone Langol

The Ugandan opposition party’s unity came at a time of do or die. The long-time Uganda Party President, Dr. Kizza Besigye, the former President Museveni’s bush surgeon, turned critic, is now detained in Luzira Prison, facing treason-related charges with his co-accused. Made amen to Uganda, bloodied opposition has become a central figure in the opposition’s narrative about political persecution ahead of the election.

In what turned out to be the mother of all unity, Dr. Kizza Besigye, through his wife Winne Byanyima, organised a prayer at his home in Kisangati, Kampala city outskirts, 20 kilometres, where Besigye has publicly endorsed Robert Kyagulanyi, the party president of National Unity Platform NUP candidate, in a message delivered by his wife Winne Byanyima.

“A prayer and solidarity gathering hosted at their residence, Kasangati home, Byanyima conveyed his message of support and emphasised unity among other opposition forces”, Ms Byanyima reportedly told both NUP and ANT supporters.

Byanyima also arranged a financial contribution she handed to Robert Kyagulanyi campaign gift headed of January 15, the Election Day. Despite Dr. Kizza Besigye being incarcerated. Byanyima handed over the funds on his behalf, telling bemused supporters that Dr. Kizza Besigye had motivated friends to raise the money to help Robert Kyagulanyi in the final stretch of his campaign.

“This contribution was described both as a partial boost and a symbolic act of solidarity with the NUP campaign push.”

The event combined prayer for the health of Dr. Kizza Besigye, other detained political figures, and the country’s future with a political rallying call for unity across the opposition line.

Robert Kyagulanyi, who was present with dozens of NUP supporters in a multitude, also spoke at the gathering, thanking families of political prisoners and highlighting Dr. Besigye’s influence on his own political journey.

In Lango Sub Region, Jimmy Akena, the son of the first Executive Prime Minister Dr. Obote, joined the call to vote for NUP party President Robert Kyagulanyi

Jimmy Akena, Uganda People Congress Party President, at a press conference he held with journalists at the UPC headquarters in Kampala and at his county home, Akokoro, Dr Apollo Milton Obote’s residence, his interaction with journalists ahead of the January 15, 2026, general election. Akena acknowledged that he has been blocked from contesting in the Presidential race by the Electoral Commission (EC) due to internal party legal issues and a court ruling that invalidated his nomination.

Argued that the blocking is tied to disputes over his position as UPC president and compliance with party constitutional requirements, among others.  The UPC party President Jimmy Akena Obote firmly blamed the ruling National Resistance Movement Party (NRM), and particularly President Museveni, for his disqualification, stressing that political interference, not just legal technicalities, was behind the decision to keep his name off the ballot paper.

Secondly, as a result, Jimmy Akena instructed his UPC supporters countrywide on how to vote in the January 15, 2026, election despite not being on the ballot paper. Argued supporters not to vote for the incumbent President Museveni, suggesting they vote for other candidates on the ballot papers, meaning any nominated opposition figures, instead of President Museveni.

UPC party President Jimmy Akena made a controversial statement, encouraging some supporters to manually write his name on the ballot paper itself, of “Protest vote” to demonstrate his political support, although the Electoral Commission and others warned this could invalidate those ballots.

Electoral Commission criticised UPC’s stand

The Uganda Electoral Commission publicly criticised Jimmy Akena’s insinuation, suggesting that UPC his supporters write names on ballot papers, calling it misleading and saying it could lead voters to accidentally spoil their votes

“His guidance is seen as a strategy to keep his political influence visible on Election Day, even though he cannot legally appear as a candidate. His directive has drawn criticism from other electoral authorities and some political figures who say encouraging spoiled ballots could undermine the credibility of the election process