I am ready for coalition in 2026 poll, says Bobi Wine

Robert Kyagulanyi, the president of the Opposition National Unit Platform (NUP) party has said he is ready to work with a coalition of the willing in his attempt to wrest power from President Museveni, who has been head of state for close to four decades .

While addressing a press conference at his residence at Magere in Wakiso District, Mr Kyagulanyi, spoke on a number of issues during the year, including corruption in Parliament that forced the youth to demonstrate, abductions of the Opposition leaders and their supporters, the natural disasters that hit the country, among others.

Responding to a question from Daily Monitor on whether there is still room for reconciliation with former Leader of Opposition in Parliament, Mr Mathias Mpuuga, after their fallout over the Shs500m service award and what his plans for a united Opposition front was, the musician-cum-politician said all the windows are still open.

Asked if his party is ready to form a coalition of the Opposition to challenge President Museveni in the forthcoming elections, he responded in the affirmative.

“We shall have a coalition of the willing. We are willing to work with everybody that pushes for change that pushes for the end of the Museveni dictatorship and the return of democracy irrespective of political affiliation. We are willing to lock hands with everybody and move forward to renew Uganda,” he said.

When asked what the current political squabbles in the Opposition parties’ mean and whether they will not derail their attempts to wrest power from Museveni, Mr Kyagulanyi said such occurrences are not new.

He added that Mr Museveni had used such tactics several times.

“It is not new that every time we are nearing an election, Gen Museveni invests in his usual divide and rule technique. Fortunately, we are very many steps ahead of him… We are not called the National Unity Platform for nothing. Our middle name is unity. Unity of purpose, unity of morality. So much as there is an effort to divide us, they will only divide the unwanted from us. It will only be good riddance, they will only be relieving us of some characters that are a baggage,” he said.

He, however, remained tight-lipped on his party’s plan for the next year. Kyagulanyi said he will address the nation next week about the New year plans ahead.

FDC open to coalition

While we were unable to get what the position of other Opposition parties are in relation to forming a coalition, the Forum for Democratic Change said while such discussions have not started, they will be open to forming the coalition of the willing.

Mr John Kikonyogo, the FDC spokesperson, said before the talk of the coalition, the Opposition parties must first resolve their internal differences, assess their strengths and weaknesses and see whether based on their evaluations there is need to cooperate.

“We are open to coalition, but first, all of us must work on our internal contradiction and sort things out and I hope by the end of January, we would have done that.

“We also encourage other parties to do the same and sort out their internal contradictions so that when we get to the table and begin talking about coalition, we deal with serious people, not people who are just forming groups to waste our time,” he said.

Mr Kikonyogo said the focus right now is to mobilise the internal party structures, reach out to its members across the country and identify potential candidates for all political positions at all levels.

“We shall also get our presidential candidates and expect others to do the same so that we come and compare who is stronger for the coalition. However, as of now, we have not started that conversation at our party,” Mr Kikonyogo added.

Mr Kyagulanyi on his part also urged the youth and other qualified individuals to join politics and contest for different positions.

BOBI’S AMBITION

Asked if he will contest for presidency again in 2026, Mr Kyagulanyi, aka Bobi Wine, said: “The question should be is Museveni ready to accept defeat? When there is an opportunity and a position in politics to make a contribution, I am always ready to take up the challenge.”