The National Unity Platform (NUP) top leadership has held its first press conference to speak about the 2026 general elections. The party cited violence, human rights abuses, and widespread vote rigging during and after the elections.

Speaking to the media at the party headquarters in Makerere Kavule on 4 February 2026, the NUP leadership, led by Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya, said the party does not accept the outcomes of the elections held on 15 January 2026 and in the days and weeks that followed.

In the absence of party president Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, whose whereabouts were not publicly known at the time, Rubongoya said the party fully rejects the results because the elections were not free and fair.

“We completely reject the results that were announced by Byabakama. Up to now, the Electoral Commission has not released the declaration of results forms that were used to declare the winners. We have many declaration of results forms and we want them to release theirs so that we can compare,” Rubongoya said.

Rubongoya added that many party members, including himself, who contested for different seats and lost, plan to challenge the results in court. He said this will be done even though they do not expect quick justice.

“We are taking some of these matters to court. Even when we do not fully trust the judicial system, we want these issues to be on record. NUP has 51 MPs, and vote recounting is still going on. We shall continue to fight for what we believe is right. I am also going to court to challenge the Kampala Central election results,” Rubongoya said.

NUP party spokesperson and Leader of Opposition in Parliament, Joel Ssenyonyi, said the party has key demands for the government, including the release of all political prisoners.

“We demand that the abduction of NUP supporters stops. Those who were arrested should be released, and if anyone has committed an offence, they should be charged in court. We also demand the release of all political prisoners,” Ssenyonyi said.

Ssenyonyi, who is also the Nakawa West Member of Parliament, called on cultural leaders, opinion leaders, and other stakeholders to speak out against human rights abuses and impunity. He said even if the government does not listen, speaking out is important for the record.

The NUP leaders also condemned the continued arrest of party supporters and leaders. They said that out of more than 3,000 people arrested, only about 800 had been traced, and only 616 were confirmed to be in custody after over 200 were released on bail in recent days.

After the 2026 general election, the Electoral Commission chairperson announced President Yoweri Museveni of the ruling NRM as the winner with 71.8 percent of the vote, while Robert Kyagulanyi came second with 24.4 percent. The NRM retained a majority in Parliament, while NUP won 51 seats. Some NUP candidates have said they will go to court, claiming the election process was unfair and that many candidates were rigged out.