Every liberal African following Uganda’s 2021 elections is cheering for National Unity Platform (NUP) leader Robert Kyagulanyi, or as the world reveres him as — Bobi Wine.
Who is Bobi Wine and why is he important in Africa’s history
Wine’s rise to political power was groomed from his infactuation with the arts. Reggae music is the heartbeat of Uganda’s slums. Growing up in Kamwookya, a settlement in the eastern parts of Kampala, ragga culture was deeply embedded in the roots of his environment.
As a musician, releasing encores like Funtula and Akagoma, the plight of his people was never lost to Wine. He sang about social justice until he was in a position of influence, to take his amplified voice and challenge Uganda’s dictatorship, led by Yoweri Museveni.
Wine takes presidential race to Museveni’s doorstep
Today, he is on the verge of making history. Uganda’s polls closed on Thursday and the voting has continued, with Wine said to be leading in three of the country’s quadrants.
#UgandaDecides2021
— The Oppressed Majority (@TheUgandanPost) January 15, 2021
Tremendous results from Eastern Uganda. Cities like Iganga have been recognized as political meccas for Bobi wine. #WeAreRemovingADictator #UgandaDecides #BobiWine #Uganda #UgandaElections #Museveni #InternetShutdownUganda #Telegram pic.twitter.com/6lyW9UCnWa
However, things are tipping on the edge amid calls of suspicious activity by Museveni’s constituency. For one, The country’s Daily Monitor reports that already, there have been reports of voter machine tampering and “a ballot box was Thursday stolen in Ntungamo.”
Moreover, footage showing Wine’s wife Barbara Kyagulanyi being harrassed by Ugandan armed forces surfaced on social media, sparking fears of intimidation tactics instigated by the dictatorship.
Shortly after this video spread on social media, Wine took to Twitter to update his followers on his wife’s situation.
“Like my wife’s, my phone has been blocked and I am unable to recieve or make regular calls. I know this is to stop me from communicating to our agents and coordinators. I encourage you comrades to be vigilant as I try to devise ways of reaching out to you,” he wrote.
Wine also stated, with confidence, that despite efforts to derail the revolution, “the picture still looks good.”
Hello Uganda! Despite the wide spread fraud and violence experienced across the country earlier today, the picture still looks good. Thank you Uganda for turning up and voting in record numbers. The challenge now is for Mr. Byabakama and the EC to declare the will of the Pple.
— BOBI WINE (@HEBobiwine) January 14, 2021
At the time this article was published, Uganda’s electoral commission had not declared a winner.