Exiled National Unity Platform (NUP) president, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, has been honoured with the Heroes of Democracy Award by the Renew Democracy Initiative (RDI).
In a statement, RDI said Kyagulanyi was recognised for his commitment to democratic principles, civic participation, and the defence of fundamental rights.
“Through personal sacrifice and principled leadership, he has inspired millions to believe in the power of peaceful civic engagement and accountable governance,” the organisation said.
RDI, which says its mission is to confront authoritarianism globally, presented the award during a ceremony in New York attended by other honourees, including former US National Security Advisor John Bolton, former Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland and US Senator Mark Kelly.
Using the platform, Kyagulanyi criticised the Ugandan government under Yoweri Museveni, describing it as a decades-long “gun rule” that has left citizens facing repression. Addressing the audience, he said he was not attending as an exile but as a representative of Ugandans demanding democratic change.
“I am here as a spokesperson for a country of nearly 50 million people who refuse to give up,” he said.
Kyagulanyi painted a bleak picture of the situation in Uganda, alleging ongoing abductions and human rights violations.
“While we gather here in comfort, people back home continue to suffer,” he said.
He highlighted the experiences of women affected by state violence, including his wife, Barbie Itungo Kyagulanyi, whom he said was mistreated by security forces, as well as other individuals he said had faced persecution.
Kyagulanyi also called on the international community, particularly the United States, to prioritise human rights in its foreign policy and impose sanctions on alleged violators under laws such as the Magnitsky Act.
“We are not asking you to come and help us. We are asking you to stop sponsoring our oppression,” he said.
Before receiving the award, Kyagulanyi engaged the audience with a musical performance, drawing cheers from attendees. Kyagulanyi left Uganda following the January 2026 general elections, which he claims he won.
Official results published in the Uganda Gazette indicate that Museveni secured 71.6 per cent of the vote, while Kyagulanyi garnered over 2.7 million votes. He has since indicated plans to return to Uganda, though no timeline has been specified.
“I intend to go back to my country,” he said, “because this is not a third-world country; we only have third-world leaders.”
