NUP Faces Uncertainty Over Bobi Wine’s Presidential Candidacy As He’s Set For Disqualification By EC

The National Unity Platform (NUP) is dealing with a major setback concerning its presidential nomination, after learning on Friday that its candidate, Bobi Wine, may be disqualified.

Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya informed journalists on Friday afternoon that the party’s flag bearer, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu—popularly known as Bobi Wine—is in danger of being removed from the contest for not fulfilling the set requirements.

Rubongoya said the Electoral Commission (EC) has notified the party that it failed to submit the required number of endorsement signatures for the presidential nomination.

This revelation, delivered just days before the nomination deadline, has thrown the party into disarray.

Unexpected Notification from the Electoral Commission

Rubongoya explained that, after several weeks of requesting an update from the EC regarding their submitted signatures, the commission finally informed them on Friday that the total number was inadequate.

This announcement comes despite NUP submitting significantly more than the mandatory 100 signatures from 98 districts.

“We have been pushing the commission every day to give us an update on the signatures we submitted so that we can pay nomination fees.”

“Today, they told us that NUP did not submit enough signatures, and that only President Museveni and a few others have submitted the required signatures.”

“We are left with a few days to nominations, and since we submitted the signatures, we have been asking them for an update. Well, knowing the EC and the regime, we understand the games they are trying to play.”

The NUP Secretary General expressed serious concern about the EC’s approach to verifying signatures.

He stated that the commission is reportedly going beyond examining the signature lists and is instead calling signatories to verify their support.

Rubongoya described the process as deeply flawed, particularly because supporters are reportedly facing intimidation from state actors.

“We have told the country recently that DPCs, DISOs and GISOs have been intimidating people who are signing on the NUP list,” he stated, arguing that the EC’s new verification method plays directly into the hands of those seeking to suppress the party’s support base.

Countdown to Nomination Deadline Intensifies

As outlined in the official election roadmap, the presidential nomination process is scheduled for Tuesday, 23rd and Wednesday, 24th September 2025.

This two-day event, from 10:00am to 4:00pm each day, will be held at the Electoral Commission Head Office Grounds in Lubowa, Makindye Ssabagabo Municipal Council, Wakiso District.

Candidates are required to present their documents and complete all pre-nomination procedures within the designated timeframe. With only a few days left, NUP is under pressure to resolve the reported shortfall.

Rubongoya ended the press briefing by noting that the EC is expected to provide a detailed report highlighting the specific districts where signatures are lacking.

This, he said, will give the party a chance to replace the missing signatures before the nomination deadline.