King Saha Says They Will Announce Bobi Wine As President If Electoral Commission Fails

Musician-turned-political mobiliser Mansur Semanda, widely celebrated as King Saha, has deepened his involvement in the heated election season, moving from stage performances to rally fronts as he crisscrosses the country with presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi, better known as Bobi Wine.

His growing presence on the trail has transformed him from a mere celebrity supporter into one of the most outspoken voices energising the National Unity Platform (NUP) base.

At a recent gathering—one charged with music, colour and anticipation—King Saha addressed supporters with his characteristic boldness, turning the crowd from jubilant to reflective as he questioned the reliability of the Electoral Commission’s leadership.

His message was unmistakably direct: NUP is not placing its trust in Electoral Commission chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama as the country edges toward the tense January polls.

In his fiery address, Saha revealed that the party has already established a fully functional parallel tallying centre, insisting that NUP has no intention of remaining passive or dependent on the official electoral machinery. The singer announced that the party would publicly release its own tallied results—even if the Electoral Commission delays or fails to do so.

King Saha did not hold back. He stressed that NUP is fully equipped and prepared to declare its own victory should circumstances demand it, portraying the move as an act of self-reliance amid widespread mistrust in state institutions.

“I am standing here to tell all of you that we already bought calculators and we shall tally these votes by ourselves. We shall go ahead to declare ourselves winners if Byabakama fails to do so because we are competent enough to gather votes across the country as they come in,” Saha stated.

His remarks sparked excitement among supporters, many of whom cheered at the idea of taking electoral oversight into their own hands. Yet they also stirred debate among observers who questioned the legality and practicality of such a move.

According to the Ugandan Constitution, the Independent Electoral Commission remains the only body empowered to officially declare election results—regardless of any parallel systems or party-based tallies. While political parties often conduct internal vote-counting for verification, the authority to announce the winner lies solely with the Electoral Commission.

Still, King Saha’s comments reflect a broader sentiment within the opposition: a deep-seated skepticism toward official processes and a determination to safeguard what they view as the true will of the people.

With tensions rising as the election draws closer, his words add yet another layer to a campaign season already marked by uncertainty, passion, and unwavering political resolve.