KAMPALA, Uganda — Opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, widely known as Bobi Wine, has unveiled a transition blueprint that he says will guide Uganda into a post-President Yoweri Museveni era if he wins the Jan. 15 general elections.
Kyagulanyi made the announcement in a New Year’s address on Jan. 1, 2026, from the National Unity Platform (NUP) headquarters in Kavule, Kampala. The plan comes just two weeks before the polls, in which he is challenging Museveni, who has ruled Uganda since 1986.
Kyagulanyi said the blueprint is aimed at ensuring a smooth, ethical and orderly transfer of power. He said a technical committee has already been formed to prepare the plan, focusing on state institutions, laws, the security sector, the civil service and service delivery.
“We are consulting citizens so that a new government takes office in a constitutional and well-prepared manner,” Kyagulanyi said.
The transition plan draws from NUP’s 2026–2031 manifesto and outlines what the party calls a “New Uganda Now.” It prioritizes 11 key policy areas, including education reforms to make quality schooling accessible to all children, regardless of income.
The plan also emphasizes women’s empowerment through education, safety and economic independence, and improvements in maternal health care, including free maternity kits and better-equipped health facilities.
Kyagulanyi pledged to protect media freedom and civil society groups, and to reform the electoral system. He said NUP would push for changes so that electoral commissioners are appointed by Parliament rather than the president, citing concerns about transparency and fairness.
The blueprint also proposes decentralizing power to strengthen regional governance and ending the use of supplementary budgets, which critics say have enabled corruption.
In a sharp criticism of Museveni, Kyagulanyi said the 81-year-old president is being misled by “fake intelligence” that downplays the opposition’s growing support.
“The change we want will not come through violence or guns,” Kyagulanyi said. “It will come through the will of the people expressed peacefully through elections.”
He urged voters to protect their votes, defend the Constitution and back what he described as a protest vote. He also announced the creation of a transition committee to prepare for a peaceful transfer of power, with political teams expected to finalize the roadmap by May 2026 if NUP wins.
The announcement comes amid heightened political tension. Museveni’s long rule has faced increasing criticism over corruption, human rights abuses and limits on opposition campaigning.
Kyagulanyi, a former musician turned politician, has drawn large crowds, especially among young voters, despite reports of police and military interference at opposition events.
Some recent opinion polls suggest strong support for NUP, with projections that the party could win a large share of parliamentary seats, driven by frustration with the ruling National Resistance Movement.
Kyagulanyi also warned of a possible internet shutdown during the elections and said the opposition has a backup communication plan. He called on voters to remain alert against intimidation.
Supporters online praised the transition plan and expressed confidence in change. Critics, however, questioned whether the blueprint can be implemented under current political conditions, citing past allegations of electoral manipulation.
As Uganda heads toward the Jan. 15 vote, Kyagulanyi’s transition blueprint has added momentum to the campaign. Whether it becomes reality will depend on the election outcome and whether the process is widely seen as free and fair.
