Uganda’s leading opposition figure, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, has called on foreign governments to halt financial support to President Yoweri Museveni’s administration, saying international aid is being used to sustain repression ahead of the tightly contested January 15, 2026, presidential election. Wine’s appeal comes amid a campaign marked by violent crackdowns on his supporters, media restrictions and fears of internet blackouts.
In a recent interview with international media, Wine argued that continued funding to Museveni’s government, particularly from Western nations, effectively subsidises what he describes as electoral intimidation and human rights abuses. “We’re not asking the West or the international community to come and save us, but we’re asking them not to sponsor our oppression,” he said, emphasising that foreign aid helps prop up a government accused of repressing opposition voices rather than supporting democratic processes.
Wine’s appeal reflects deep frustration over the political climate in Uganda, where President Museveni, who has ruled the country for four decades, is seeking a seventh term in office. Opponents and human rights organisations have raised serious concerns about narrowing political space, widespread arrests of opposition supporters and the use of force by security forces during campaign events. Amnesty International has described the environment as a “brutal campaign of repression,” citing tear gas, beatings and arbitrary arrests at opposition rallies.
The opposition leader has faced repeated harassment from security forces in recent weeks. Reports indicate that several of his supporters have been detained or injured during confrontations with plainclothes officers, and he has been forced to campaign under heavy security presence. Critics say these tactics are part of a pattern of state pressure on dissenting voices, which has intensified as election day nears.
In his calls for a freeze on foreign funding, Wine highlighted that Uganda has often benefited from substantial external assistance, particularly from Western countries focused on health, development and security cooperation. He argues that such funds, while intended to support national development, are ultimately diverted to strengthen the ruling party’s hold on power and sustain a government that he says lacks democratic legitimacy.
The opposition’s plea comes at a time of increasing scrutiny of the Ugandan government’s handling of the campaign period. In early January, authorities banned live broadcasts of riots and “unlawful processions,” citing concerns about public order, a move criticised by rights groups who say it restricts freedom of expression and access to information during a critical political period.
Wine’s broader strategy also includes rallying domestic and international attention not just to aid flows but to democratic norms. He has urged his supporters to mobilise peacefully, urging Ugandans to use the election as a constitutional protest against decades of authoritarian rule and to ensure their voices are heard at the polls.
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