The National Unity Platform (NUP), led by opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, has begun vetting local government candidates in Moroto District.
The development signals a strategic push to strengthen the party’s influence in Uganda’s mineral-rich northern region.
The vetting process highlights NUP’s efforts to build a robust grassroots presence ahead of the 2026 general elections.
Moroto, home to the Karimojong ethnic group, has historically seen limited opposition activity, making the party’s recent engagement there a significant development.
“Our mission is to bring the voice of the people to every corner of Uganda,” said David Lewis Rubongoya, NUP’s Secretary-General.
“The people of Moroto have been marginalized for too long. We’re here to change that.”
The event prominently featured the party’s rallying cry, “People Power, Our Power,” a slogan rooted in the 2017 movement that propelled Bobi Wine onto the national stage.
Since assuming leadership of NUP in 2020, Wine has focused on building a nationwide political structure capable of challenging long-time President Yoweri Museveni.
Although official 2021 election results gave Bobi Wine 35.08% of the presidential vote, a Market Intelligence Group survey from the same year indicated 59% public support, a discrepancy that fueled allegations of electoral irregularities.
This latest outreach in Moroto coincides with growing international concern over electoral integrity. A 2025 Brennan Centre report found that 59% of US election officials fear political interference, highlighting global pressures on democratic processes, including in Uganda.
“We are not only preparing to win,” Rubongoya added. “We are preparing to protect the people’s victory.”
NUP’s expansion into traditionally overlooked regions like Karamoja signals a bold political strategy that could reshape Uganda’s electoral landscape in 2026.
