Jakakimba sends goodwill message to Bobi Wine ahead of Uganda elections

Kenyan lawyer Silas Jakakimba, a former aide of the late ex-Prime Minister Raila Odinga, has sent a message of goodwill to Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine and the people of Uganda ahead of the country’s general election scheduled for Thursday, January 15, 2026.

In a statement released on Wednesday, Jakakimba said he wished to convey his “personal message of goodwill and success” to Bobi Wine as Ugandans head to the polls.

“As The Republic of Uganda and its Peoples head to elections tomorrow Thursday January 15th, 2026 – I wish to convey my personal Message of Goodwill and Success to my Dearest Brother and Comrade, H.E. Bobi Wine,” the statement reads in part.

Jakakimba also expressed hope that the electoral process would be peaceful and inspire confidence among all stakeholders, noting the importance of credible elections to democratic development across the region.

He said he was offering “heartfelt prayers for a peaceful electoral process that fosters confidence of all stakeholders and grounds the key democratic tenets in line with East Africa’s and the African continent’s continuing yearn for peaceful and equally democratic electoral processes.”

The Kenyan advocate, who is also the United Demcoratic Alliance (UDA) Homa Bay Secretary, further emphasized that peaceful democratic transitions remain critical for stability and growth on the continent.

“Across the continent, it has been widely appreciated that peaceful democratic transitions remain integral for continued peace, stability and economic growth and development of its Nation-states,” Jakakimba said.

He concluded his message by extending respect and prayers to all Ugandans and candidates participating in the election.

“Sending all the Citizens of The Republic of Uganda and ALL the Candidates, the assurances of my Highest Respect, Prayers and Consideration.”

Uganda heads to the polls amid heightened regional and international interest, with the conduct and outcome of the election expected to have broader implications for democratic governance in East Africa.

This comes after the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) on Tuesday directed the suspension of public internet access and selected mobile services during the election period.

In a directive issued by the regulator, UCC Executive Director Nyombi Thembo stated that the move is aimed at safeguarding national security and maintaining public order during the electoral process by mitigating the spread of misinformation. disinformation and electoral fraud. 

UCC instructed service providers to temporarily disable access to social media platforms, mobile data services and other selected internet-based communication channels for the duration of the voting exercise and the immediate post-election period.

Human rights defenders have since raised concerns over the state of Uganda’s electoral process, condemning the suspension of internet services and accusing authorities of undermining the credibility of the vote.

The group, led by VOCAL Africa CEO Hussein Khalid, strongly criticised the Electoral Commission of Uganda, arguing that it lacks the capacity and independence to conduct a free and fair election.