TOUGH TIMES AHEAD FOR BOBI WINE!! Mobile Money Accounts Used For NUP’s Fundraising All Deactivated

Just days after Bobi Wine, leader of the National Unity Platform (NUP), launched a major fundraising campaign to boost the party’s efforts ahead of Uganda’s 2026 general elections, the government has reportedly responded with a swift and controversial move: deactivating the mobile money numbers NUP was using to collect donations from supporters nationwide.

The sudden shutdown of these accounts has sent shockwaves through the opposition, raising renewed fears about political freedom, financial repression, and the integrity of Uganda’s democratic process.

Benjamin Katana, a senior NUP official, disclosed the development during a panel discussion on NBS Frontline. He emphasized the critical role mobile money had played in allowing ordinary Ugandans to support the party’s push for change. According to Katana, no official explanation was given for the deactivation, though insiders suggest the directive came “from above”—an apparent reference to senior government figures.

This isn’t the first time the Ugandan government has been accused of targeting financial systems used by the opposition. In 2021, President Yoweri Museveni allegedly ordered the deportation of then-MTN Uganda CEO Wim Vanhelleputte after reports emerged that exiled Ugandans and foreign backers were using mobile platforms to fund anti-government protests and influence the military. That same year, internet access was deliberately restricted by security forces, disrupting both communication and financial transactions via MTN and Airtel.

The pattern goes back further. In 2016, prominent businessman Sudhir Ruparelia faced intense government pressure after allegations surfaced that opposition leaders Amama Mbabazi and Kizza Besigye were channeling campaign funds through his Crane Bank. The fallout was severe—Sudhir was forced to relinquish control of the bank and reportedly barred from operating any financial services, including foreign exchange or international money transfers.

With the 2026 elections on the horizon, the same playbook appears to be unfolding again—this time with Bobi Wine in the crosshairs. NUP supporters argue that the ruling regime is weaponizing financial control to cripple opposition momentum. As the party scrambles to find new ways to fund its activities, many Ugandans are left questioning the health of their democracy.

The message is unmistakable: in Uganda’s high-stakes political arena, controlling the money is as vital as winning the vote.