KAMPALA — As Ugandans head to the polls, a message of solidarity crossed the border from Nairobi. Babu Owino, a Kenyan lawmaker known for his blunt style, offered public support to Uganda’s leading opposition figure, Bobi Wine, on the morning of voting.
“As Uganda heads to the ballot box today, I want to wish my brother Bobi Wine all the best,” Mr Owino wrote on social media. “He has everything it takes to win this election and change the lives of the people of Uganda.”
Mr Owino, the Member of Parliament for Embakasi East, said he believed Mr Wine had both the character and resolve to lead the country. His remarks come as Uganda holds a presidential election widely expected to extend President Yoweri Museveni’s long rule.
Mr Wine, born Robert Kyagulanyi, is a former pop star who has become the most prominent challenger to Mr Museveni. His rise has energised young voters and drawn sharp attention from regional leaders and international observers concerned about political freedoms in Uganda.
The election is expected to deliver Mr Museveni, 81, a seventh term in office. He has ruled since 1986 and has hinted this could be his final race. That prospect has stirred quiet succession battles within the ruling National Resistance Movement and raised questions about the country’s political future.
While eight candidates are contesting the presidency, analysts say the race has largely narrowed to two. Mr Wine, leader of the National Unity Platform, is seen as the only candidate capable of mounting a serious challenge. Others on the ballot include Mugisha Muntu, Nandala Mafabi and Joseph Mabirizi.
Voting is taking place under heavy security. Police and other security agencies have been deployed across cities, highways and residential areas. In a statement posted on X, the Uganda Police Force said the measures were meant to keep voters and election officials safe and to prevent unrest.
Images shared by the police showed officers on foot patrols and in vehicles, signalling a visible show of force ahead of polling.
Opposition groups and rights organisations have raised concerns about arrests, restrictions on campaigning and the overall climate in which the vote is being held. The government says the security presence is necessary to maintain peace and order.
Hon. Owino’s message adds to a growing list of regional figures voicing support for Mr Wine, underscoring the wider interest in an election that many see as a test of Uganda’s democratic space.
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