Singer-turned-political activist King Saha has dismissed any reliance on Electoral Commission (EC) chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama as Ugandans prepare for the January 15, 2026 polls.
Speaking boldly in Luwero, Saha said the National Unity Platform (NUP) has already set up a parallel tallying system and is ready to release its own results should the EC delay or fail to announce them.
“I am standing here to tell all of you that we already bought calculators and we shall tally these votes by ourselves. We shall go ahead to declare ourselves winners if Byabakama fails to do so because we are competent enough to gather votes across the country as they come in,” Saha said.
NUP’s Continued Claims of ‘Winning’ the Election
On different campaign rallies, NUP leaders, including party president Robert Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine), have repeatedly told supporters that they expect to win the 2026 election but believe the EC will not announce their victory.
They have consistently encouraged supporters to “protect the vote” and stay at polling stations after casting their ballots—despite this being against official Electoral Commission guidelines, which require voters to leave once they are done voting to avoid unlawful gatherings.
NUP argues that its parallel tally arrangements are intended to prevent what it alleges are past cases of vote manipulation, while the EC has repeatedly insisted that all tallying and official announcements remain its exclusive mandate under the law.
Escalating Tension Ahead of January Polls
King Saha’s remarks add to a growing wave of campaign rhetoric as political temperatures rise ahead of the January 2026 elections. While NUP insists it is preparing to safeguard its vote, critics warn that encouraging supporters to disregard EC procedures could set the stage for confrontation on polling day.
The Electoral Commission has not yet responded to Saha’s latest comments.
