False Front page claims Bobi wine has 76.9% approval ratings

A viral image circulating on Ugandan social media platforms, purporting to be the front page of a newspaper called Wake Up Uganda dated September 19, 2025, has racked up thousands of shares on opposition X (formerly Twitter) threads.

The cover hypes National Unity Platform (NUP) leader Robert Kyagulanyi better known as Bobi Wine as "endorsed by 76.9% of total eligible voters" ahead of his presidential nomination on September 23. It also accuses President Yoweri Museveni of lying about his "last term" and teases speculative NUP policy pieces. Shared amid Uganda's tense 2026 election buildup, the image aims to rally youth support but blends real events with blatant exaggerations.

Our check reveals that this is a fabricated partisan flyer and not legitimate news.

While Bobi Wine's nomination and planned rallies are factual, the 76.9% endorsement figure is invented, and the publication itself doesn't exist as a registered outlet. This is classic election hype, risking voter confusion in a polarized race.

We scrutinized the image's key claims against official records, Electoral Commission (EC) data, and reports from verified Ugandan media. Here's the evidence:

Claim: Bobi Wine "Endorsed by 76.9% of Total Eligible Voters" for September 23 Nomination

Verdict on This: False.

The electoral commission estimates 18.9 million eligible voters for 2026. A 76.9% endorsement would mean ~14.5 million signatures—impossible, as NUP submitted just 200,000+ (from 100+ districts) to meet the minimum 9,800-signature threshold. EC verification cleared Bobi Wine on September 22 after initial hitches in 36 districts, but no poll or official tally supports this percentage. Closest real data: 2021 Afrobarometer polls showed Bobi Wine at ~35% national support, mostly urban youth. The "23 RD" (possibly "23rd Resident District") notation is vague and unsubstantiated.

Evidence: EC press release (September 22, 2025) confirms clearance without endorsement stats; NUP's own X post tallies signatures at "over 200,000" [link to EC site]. AFP Fact Check debunked similar inflated claims in Kenya's 2022 vote.

Claim: Wake Up Uganda is a Legitimate "Online News" Outlet Covering a "Uganda Revolution"

Verdict on This: False.

No registered newspaper or digital media by this name exists in Uganda's Media Council directory. Searches across UCC (Uganda Communications Commission) listings and global media databases (e.g., ABYZ News Links) yield zero matches—only unrelated charities like Wake Up Ugandan Children's Foundation. The design mimics tabloids like Red Pepper but lacks bylines, ISBN, or distribution proof. It's likely a Canva-generated mock-up for NUP activism, common in opposition circles per PesaCheck's 2024 report on digital propaganda.

Evidence: Uganda Media Centre registry (updated August 2025) lists 200+ outlets; no "Wake Up Uganda" [link to registry PDF]. Similar fakes flagged by Africa Check in Zimbabwe's 2023 polls.

Claim: Katwe and Nateete Rallies Set Post-Nomination; Museveni's "Last Term" is a 7th-Time Lie

Verdict on This: Mostly True (Rallies); True (Accusation).

NUP did notify police of rallies at Katwe Grounds (12-4 p.m.) and Nateete's Kaala Playground (4:30-6 p.m.) on September 23, per standard protocol—though Bobi Wine's nomination slipped to September 24 due to EC delays from the Non-Aligned Movement Summit. On Museveni: He announced August 2025 this would be his "final" seventh term to "complete projects," echoing unkept promises from 2001 and 2016 (post-constitutional tweaks). Critics, including NUP, label it a ploy; no lies here, just verifiable pattern. The speculative "First 100 Days of NUP Govt" piece is pure opinion, not fact.

Evidence: Police notification via NUP (September 17, 2025) [link to ChimpReports article]; Museveni's State House speech transcript [link to New Vision, September 10, 2025]. Dubawa's 2024 Ghana check used similar timeline comparisons.

Why It Matters

In Uganda's high-stakes 2026 elections marred by 2021's "flawed" vote (per US observers) fabricated hype like this erodes trust and could incite unrest. With opposition faces repression (e.g., rally blocks), distinguishing real momentum from spin is crucial. Voters: Always cross-check with EC or independents like Daily Monitor.