A widely circulated image of the Sunday Monitor newspaper front page featuring a quote allegedly attributed to opposition leader Bobi Wine is FALSE.
The doctored headline, which reads “In 2026, Gen Museveni will win and I will be second,” has been making rounds on social media, particularly on X (formerly Twitter) and WhatsApp, sparking confusion and political debate.
However, this claim is false and misleading. An investigation by the DisMis Fake News Desk, including a Google Reverse Image Search and verification against archived newspaper records, confirms that the image was digitally manipulated.
The original Sunday Monitor issue, dated 28th September 2024, in fact carried a very different headline: “I will stand for President in 2026.” This authentic version clearly reflects Bobi Wine’s stated intention to contest in the next general election, not to concede defeat in advance.
The altered front page appears to be part of a coordinated attempt to misrepresent the political stance of Bobi Wine, leader of the National Unity Platform (NUP), and potentially sway public perception ahead of the 2026 elections.
Fabricated newspaper covers are a common tactic in disinformation campaigns designed to mimic legitimate journalism and mislead the public. DisMis continues to monitor and debunk such misleading content to protect the integrity of public discourse.
Verdict: FALSE