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Bobi can win 2026 election if prayers are counted as votes

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Musaazi Namiti 

“Prayer works, take my word!” Bobi Wine aka Robert Kyagulanyi, the president of the National Unity Platform, wrote on his Facebook page on January 5. His post attracted 6,000 comments, and one of the commenters pointedly asked: “Will prayer work in 2026?”

It was a pertinent question. If prayer works, as Mr Kyagulanyi posted, all he needs is to pray with his supporters for electoral success. Then he will dislodge President Museveni from the State House where he has been a permanent fixture for 38 years.What’s more, there is still plenty of time for prayer. And the Bible, the word of God, as Christians claim, bears out Mr Kyagulanyi.

 It has many verses that attest to the power of prayer. For example, in Mark 11:24, Jesus says, "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." The same point is made in Matthew 7:7, Matthew 17:20, Matthew 21:21, Mark 11:24, John 14:12-14, Matthew 18:19 and James 5:15-16.

In theory, Mr Kyagulanyi can get elected on the strength of prayer. Nonetheless, there is a world of difference between what Bible verses say and reality. Detached observers of prayer and Ugandan politics would say Mr Kyagulanyi can win the 2026 election if prayers are counted as votes. In other words, there is nothing that prayer can do to enable him to win the election. He lost the 2021 election not because he did not pray; he lost the election because he could not do anything about rigging, intimidation, violence and the fact that the candidate who was seeking re-election was and is always determined to win at all costs.Mr Kyagulanyi’s previous attempts to use prayer ended in failure. Pastor Michael Kyazze has recounted how, in 2021, Mr Kyagulanyi phoned him late at night, seeking help in the form of prayer. "I want you to pray for me so that I can go to the State House,” he quoted him as saying.

The “prayer-actually-works” claim also raises another question: Why didn’t Mr Kyagulanyi use prayer to get the government to free detained NUP supporters? He used legal means, not prayer, and still failed.On the very day that Mr Kyagulanyi wrote his post, a NUP supporter named Sanya Muhyidin, who had been illegally detained for nearly four years, said: “I was forced to confess to crimes I did not commit because it was the only way I was told I would get out of prison." 

Politicians, it seems to me, use the word “prayer” to excite gullible voters/supporters, but they know it is ineffectual. Uganda’s political problems have persisted despite daily prayers. It does not even make sense to pray the NRM out of power because the same Bible that says that prayer fixes problems has Roman 13: 1, which says: “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established.”

In other words, Mr Museveni was chosen by God to lead Uganda and is still in power with the consent and knowledge of God. God wants him to continue leading Uganda. Those who disagree yet they believe the Bible is the word of God have a conundrum to deal with.

As for Mr Kyagulanyi and Ugandans who want a change of leadership, prayer, as a standalone strategy, will not change anything. To unseat a regime as entrenched as Uganda’s, the Opposition must take practical, results-oriented action. Only then can they hope for electoral success.


Mr Namiti is a journalist and former Al Jazeera digital editor in charge of the Africa desk
[email protected]