By Nadia Ntiamoah
As Uganda’s election campaigns enter their final stretch, a voter outreach strategy rolled out by the National Unity Platform (NUP) has generated unexpected controversy, shifting attention from mobilisation to mounting public criticism.
The “50 Calls Campaign,” championed by NUP flagbearer Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, was designed as a low-cost, technology-driven way of engaging voters directly by phone.
Instead, the initiative has exposed deep-seated tensions between Kyagulanyi’s past political rhetoric and the very electorate his party is now seeking to persuade.
The campaign encourages NUP supporters to place phone calls to voters across the country, urging them to support Kyagulanyi and his party ahead of polling day. In principle, the strategy aligns with modern political campaigning and has even been described by the Electoral Commission (EC) as a lawful and innovative form of voter engagement.
However, its rollout has been marred by a series of confrontations, viral audio clips, and accusations of harassment, raising questions about discipline within the campaign and the broader appeal of Kyagulanyi’s message.
Much of the resistance encountered during the calls appears rooted in Kyagulanyi’s earlier public positions on key national policies.
Over the years, he has been sharply critical of several government programmes, most notably the Parish Development Model (PDM), a flagship initiative aimed at boosting household incomes at the grassroots level.
His repeated suggestions that the programme should be scrapped have alienated beneficiaries who view it as a critical source of livelihood.
In recorded call exchanges now circulating on social media, some voters have openly cited this stance as their reason for rejecting NUP’s appeal, insisting that they cannot support a candidate perceived as hostile to programmes sustaining their families.
Other policy positions have also resurfaced during the phone interactions. Kyagulanyi’s pledge to remove military personnel from fishing communities and hand full control back to locals—framed by him as a move to protect livelihoods—has been criticized by opponents who fear it could reopen the door to illegal fishing and environmental degradation.
In addition, remarks previously described by critics as tribally insensitive, as well as his outspoken criticism of Uganda’s tourism and investment climate while abroad, have re-emerged as points of contention among voters contacted through the campaign.
The controversy intensified after a viral clip captured NUP supporters placing a call to a number they believed belonged to Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja.
When the call did not go as expected, the exchange reportedly degenerated into insults and abusive language. Legal analysts reviewing the footage warned that such conduct could cross into harassment and misuse of personal data, potentially exposing individuals involved to legal consequences.
Beyond isolated incidents, multiple recordings shared online show voters reacting angrily to repeated or unsolicited calls, accusing callers of intimidation and verbal abuse when they declined to support Kyagulanyi.
Political observers say these episodes reflect a wider problem within the NUP campaign, where enthusiasm among supporters is not always matched by restraint or respect for differing views. According to analysts, the phone campaign has inadvertently created a platform for citizens to directly challenge what they describe as misinformation or exaggerated claims made by NUP leaders on the campaign trail.
The Electoral Commission has sought to strike a balanced tone amid the controversy. EC Chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama publicly affirmed that phone-based voter mobilisation is permissible under electoral laws and can be effective if conducted responsibly.
He noted, however, that such strategies require discipline and respect for voters’ rights to accept or reject political messages without intimidation.
With Uganda heading to the polls on January 15, what was intended to be a final push by NUP has instead become a cautionary tale about the risks of last-minute innovations.
