Bobi Wine rules out court petition against Museveni victory

NUP President Bobi Wine, has ruled out filing a court petition challenging President Yoweri Museveni’s victory in last week’s general election.

Bobi Wine says he has no confidence in the country’s judiciary. 

Speaking to the BBC from an undisclosed location where he has been hiding since Friday, Bobi Wine said the courts were “captured” and incapable of delivering justice in politically sensitive cases.

“The judiciary in Uganda is captured and we encourage Ugandans to use any legal means to fight back and protect their democracy,” he said.

Instead, he said he would continue standing up to President Museveni despite concerns for his personal safety. Instead of legal action, the National Unity Platform (NUP) leader urged his supporters to engage in peaceful street protests.

According to the Electoral Commission, Museveni, 81, won the January 15 poll with 7,946,772 votes (71.65 per cent), while Bobi Wine finished second with 2,741,238 votes (24.72 per cent). Museveni has dismissed opposition complaints, accusing them of attempting to overturn the election through violence and branding some of their supporters as “terrorists”.

Bobi Wine has rejected the declared results as “fake”, alleging widespread ballot stuffing and manipulation, although he has not provided detailed evidence. 

He also accused security forces of besieging his home in Magere, preventing food from reaching his wife and relatives, whom he described as being under de facto house arrest. He said he fled during a late-night raid by security personnel.

While authorities have not responded directly to these claims, the Uganda Human Rights Commission said that although there were technical and procedural challenges, they did not undermine the overall fairness of the vote. 

African Union observers similarly reported no evidence of ballot stuffing, but criticised the prolonged internet shutdown imposed around polling and results declaration.

Despite Bobi Wine’s refusal to go to court, the election outcome has nonetheless landed before the Supreme Court. Robert Kasibante, one of the eight presidential candidates and flag bearer of the National Peasants Party, has filed a petition seeking annulment of Museveni’s victory. 

Kasibante alleges widespread irregularities, violence and non-compliance with electoral laws, arguing that the poll did not reflect the will of the electorate.

Kasibante, who finished sixth with 33,440 votes, claims Museveni or his agents committed electoral offences and unlawful acts. 

Bobi Wine, who challenged Museveni’s victory in 2021 before later withdrawing his petition citing judicial bias, says his decision not to return to court reflects lessons learnt and a broader struggle for democratic change beyond legal avenues.