FACT-CHECK: Bobi Wine was not declared Uganda’s President-elect

Written by Rufina Isaac

A poster being widely circulated on Facebook claiming that Kyagulanyi Ssentamu Robert, also known as Bobi Wine, has been elected president of Uganda is false.

“Bobi Wine elected as the legitimate president of Uganda,” reads in part the claim posted on Facebook by the page Africa for Afrikans, on 19 January 2026.

A similar claim was also shared here on Facebook, garnering just over 300 reactions, 67 comments and one share.

Debunking the Claim:

Uganda’s Electoral Commission declared sitting President Yoweri Museveni as the winner of the 15 January 2026 presidential elections, securing his seventh term in office with 71.88 per centof the votes. He defeated his main challenger, 43-year-old Bobi Wine, who received 24.72 per centof the vote, according to the official results.

Kyagulanyi Ssentamu Robert alias Bobi Wine — leader of the National Unity Platform (NUP) and prominent opposition figure — was not declared the winner of the 15 January 2026 presidential elections and is not recognised as president-elect by Uganda’s electoral authorities or international observers.

However, Kyagulanyi Ssentamu Robert, alias Bobi Wine and two other presidential candidates have rejected the results, alleging irregularities including ballot stuffing, intimidation, and the blocking of party agents from polling stations, according to Al Jazeera.

Our Verdict:

The ClarityDesk finds the claim being widely shared on Facebook that Kyagulanyi Ssentamu Robert, also known as Bobi Wine, is Uganda’s president-elect to be false.

This article is published by The ClarityDesk, with the support of the Election Civic Tech Fund of AfricTivistes, within the AHEAD Africa and Digitalise Youth projects, led by the Digital Democracy Initiative.

Have you spotted an error in this article and would like to request a correction, or have you come across a claim that we should investigate? Please send us an email via editor@claritydesk.org or click here to WhatsApp us via +211 928 606 958.

About The ClarityDesk

The ClarityDesk is a media integrity project based in South Sudan that promotestruth, transparency, and accountability. Working at the intersection of fact-checking, solutions and data journalism, we verify claims, debunk misinformation, and equip the public with tools to evaluate information critically. Our work is guided by accuracy, independence, and the public interest