David Rubongoya: Ugandans Must Vote, Stay and Protect the Results in 2026

The National Unity Platform (NUP) has intensified its campaign to boost voter turnout ahead of Uganda’s 2026 general elections, urging citizens to take an active role in shaping the country’s future.

Speaking to Sunday Monitor, NUP Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya said the party is placing strong emphasis on what he termed a “protest vote,” rallying Ugandans to respond to poor governance by turning up in large numbers to vote.

“We’ve been telling people that if you don’t vote, you lose the right to complain about rigging and bad governance. There’s no reason why you should not vote when one day in five years can change your life forever," Rubongoya said.

Rubongoya revealed that beyond just voting, the party is encouraging citizens to remain at polling stations after casting their ballots to monitor the vote-counting process and ensure transparency.

“Protect the vote. Do not leave the polling station until they have announced the results," he emphasized.

The remarks reflect growing concerns within the opposition over voter apathy, especially in urban areas where frustration with repeated allegations of election fraud runs high.

Rubongoya maintained that increased participation and vigilance on polling day are key strategies in the party’s broader plan to challenge the ruling establishment in 2026.

NUP leader Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, is widely expected to contest the presidency again after his 2021 bid, which was marred by widespread reports of electoral malpractice