Opposition has already lost election, says Ambassador Kinobe

POLTICS|ELECTION WATCH

Uganda's ambassador to Sudan Maj. James Kinobe has asked Opposition politicians to prepare for the 2026 general elections, arguing that there is every indication that the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) has already won the forthcoming elections at all levels.

Kinobe, while addressing journalists at the Uganda Journalists Association offices in Kawempe, Kampala, said Opposition parties are too disjointed to win the coming general elections. "Many opposition politicians have been running away from their political parties to join new ones. Solid politicians do not keep moving from one party to another," Kinobe said.

The ambassador, who is a former minister and MP for Katikamu North, argued that the current wave of opposition leaders abandoning their parties to join the National Unity Platform of Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu is not different from what happened when Dr Kizza Besigye had just come. The historical NRM leader explained that the deployment of the army in Kampala is not meant to intimidate voters, but to ensure that Ugandans and their properties are protected.

"You have been hearing opposition politicians promising that they have plan B, which they want to implement during election time," he said. Contrary to the perceptions of many, ambassador Kinobe assured the nation that the elections will be free and fair. "President Yoweri Museveni is ready to concede and handover power if he is defeated genuinely.

The Opposition should not fear because the election will be free and fair. But as NRM, we are confident that our presidential candidate will win," Kinobe said. He noted that Uganda's Opposition is "so disorganised and not strategic enough to take over power".

With only nine days left for the country to conduct presidential and parliamentary elections on January 14, the anxiety about the likely outcome is skyrocketing. Kyagulanyi, who according to all opinion polls, is the leading challenger of the incumbent, President Museveni, has been consistently promising that he will win the presidential election with 90%, at every polling station and every district.