Bobi Wine | |
|---|---|
 Wine in 2024 | |
| President of theNational Unity Platform | |
| Assumed office 14 July 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Moses Nkonge Kibalama |
| Member of Parliament for Kyadondo County East | |
| In office 11 July 2017 – 24 May 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Apollo Katinti |
| Succeeded by | Muwada Nkunyingi |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu (1982-02-12)12 February 1982 (age 44) |
| Party | NUP |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 4 |
| Education | Makerere University Cavendish University Uganda (LLB) |
| Website | bobiwine |
Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu (born 12 February 1982), commonly known by his stage nameBobi Wine, is aUgandan activist, opposition leaderpolitician,singer,lawyer[1] andactor. He is a formerMember of Parliament for Kyadondo County East constituency inWakiso District, in Uganda'sCentral Region.[2]
He also leads theNational Unity Platform (NUP) political party.[3] In June 2019, he announced his candidacy for the2021 Ugandan presidential election. He participated in the 2021 election, in which, according to official results, he lost to incumbentYoweri Museveni. As of January 2026, he maintains that this result was fraudulent.[4] On 14 December 2021, he was placed underhouse arrest by theGovernment of Uganda, he then continued to protest his arrest.[5][6] He later went abroad where he was involved in the creation of adocumentary titledThe corruption involved in the 2021 election. Upon his return to Uganda on 5 October 2023, he was arrested.[7] ThePeabody Award-winning documentary filmBobi Wine: The People's President chronicled his journey during the 2021 election.[8]
On 7 February 2025, the NUP held an open public debate for all 10 contestants in the2025 Kawempe North by-election, a first for Uganda.[9] The debate was streamed live on social media.[10] On 25 June 2025, Wine officially filed for the NUP's presidential flagbearer in the2026 general elections in Uganda, describing the bid as a continuation of his "unfinished mission" and urged citizens to support a "protest vote" to end decades of political repression.[11] One day after the general election, the NUP alleged that Museveni sent an army helicopter to arrest Wine as part of a larger military order to suppress Wine's supporters using "snatch squads" operating on the streets.[12] Wine reported that he escaped the raid on his compound.[13]
Bobi Wine was born Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu on 12 February 1982 to the Jackson Willington Ssentamu in a family of 34.[14] He was born inNkozi Hospital, where his mother, Margaret Nalunkuuma worked as amidwife.[15][16] He grew up in theKamwokya slum in the northeastern part ofKampala, the capital city of Uganda.[17]
Wine attendedKitante Hill School, where he attained hisUganda Certificate of Education in 1996, as well asKololo Senior Secondary School, where he attained hisUganda Advanced Certificate of Education in 1998. He then attendedMakerere University inKampala, where he studied music, dance, and drama, graduating with a diploma in 2003. In 2016, Wine joined theInternational University of East Africa for a Bachelor of Laws degree. Following the advice of his constitutional law lecturer, David Lewis Rubongoya, he transferred from IUEA, which was not fully accredited to teach law at the time, toCavendish University, which was already accredited. He graduated from Cavendish University in August 2024.[18][19]
Wine and Mugisha Fadhalmul Toto started theircareer in the early 2000s, and adopted the stage name BobiRob and pr Toto, akin to his Christian given name, Robert, taking inspiration fromBob Marley who was also named Robert. He later adapted the stage name Bobi Wine. His first singles "Akagoma", "Funtula", and "Sunda" (featuring Ziggy D) brought him success in the Ugandan music scene.[18] His music has been characterized askidandali,reggae,dancehall, andafrobeat, often with a socially conscious message. He was the leader of the group Fire Base Crew[20] until its disbandment, after which he started a new group known as Ghetto Republic of Uganja.[21] He has released more than 70 songs over 15 years.[18] he also heads a music group calledFire Base
In 2016, his song "Kiwani" was featured on the soundtrack for theDisney movieQueen of Katwe.[22]
Wine developed a humanitarian and politically focused musical genre in 2006, one which entertains while also conveying educational messages, particularly to the underprivileged residents of Kampala's suburbs, including the Ghetto. Some notable works include "Ghetto" (featuring Nubian Li), "Obuyonjo," "Obululu Tebutwawula," "Time Bomb," and others.
The messages contained in these music projects were typically aimed at politicians, urging them to take greater care of the underprivileged, as well as encouraging ordinary citizens to be more responsible in their communities. Topics covered include hygiene, maternal health, abortion, child pregnancies,child marriages,domestic violence andHIV/AIDS.
Wine's music resonated strongly with the public, earning him the nickname "Ghetto President" and helping him establish a prominent position in Ugandan politics later in his career.[23][24][25]
Wine is also a film actor, mainly starring in local Ugandan movies.[18] In 2010, he was cast inCleopatra Koheirwe's drama filmYogera. In 2015, he was cast in a lead role in the Twaweza-supported filmSituka with Hellen Lukoma.[26] He has also worked on a number of other films, includingDivizionz.[27]
Bobi Wine had his own reality TV show namedThe Ghetto President[28]
He appears in the 2022 documentaryBobi Wine: The People's President directed by Moses Bwayo and Christopher Sharp. It was shot over five years and follows Wine and his wife on the campaign trail leading to the 2021 Presidential election.[29] The documentary won aPeabody Award at the 84th ceremony in 2024[30] and was nominated for Best Documentary Feature at the 2024 Oscars.
In April 2017, Bobi Wine announced his candidacy for parliament in a by-election for Kyadondo County East constituency. His door-to-door walking campaign attracted attention both inUganda and abroad.[21][31] He won the contest by a wide margin, beating two seasoned candidates:Sitenda Sebalu of the rulingNational Resistance Movement (NRM) party and Apollo Kantinti of the main opposition partyForum for Democratic Change (FDC).[2][32][33]
In 2018, Wine gained increasing fame, championing the victories in most of theby-elections by the candidates he campaigned for, thus beating out NRM and FDC candidates.
On 14 August 2018, supporters of the independent candidate for parliamentKassiano Wadri allegedly obstructed and attacked President Museveni's convoy in the northern town ofArua, nearGulu. Museveni's motorcade was allegedly pelted with stones, leading to clashes between security forces and protesters.[34] Later, Wine, an outspoken critic of Museveni, revealed through a social media post that police had intentionally shot at his vehicle, killing his driver. Wine had endorsed Wadri's candidacy against the official pro-Museveni candidate in Arua.[35] Museveni publicly blamed Bobi Wine for the incident.
Bobi Wine was arrested on 15 August 2018 for possible charges of unlawful possession of firearms and incitement to violence,[36] after which he was brought in front of a military court and charged with the former the following day. It was reported that Wine appeared to have been beaten before appearing in court.[37] Kampala Lord MayorErias Lukwago, a lawyer who has represented detained MPs, said that Wine was in a worrying state of health and needed urgent medical attention.[38] The government has repeatedly denied allegations of torture. Ugandan opposition leaderKizza Besigye called a press conference, where he demanded the MP's immediate release.[39]
With popular protests growing in Uganda demanding Wine's release, and heated discussions in the Ugandan Parliament, the Ugandan State prosecution withdrew the charges filed during Wine's second appearance in front of the General Court Martial in Gulu on 23 August 2018. The prosecution indicated it would further pursue possible charges in a civilian court for a possible trial of the MP.[40] Upon release, Wine was rearrested and charged with treason in a civilian court.[41] In September 2018, Wine was released on bail and travelled to the United States for medical treatment for injuries he allegedly received in custody.[42] The Ugandan government banned his supporters from gathering on the day of his release, and on the day of his return from the United States.[42][43] He eventually addressed his supporters in a gathering outside his home upon his return to Uganda on 20 September 2018.[44]
In August 2019, Wine was charged with "intent to alarm, annoy or ridicule" President Museveni for his role in the Arua incident the previous year. The charges came a day after the death of Ziggy Wine, a fellow Ugandan musician and staunch critic of Museveni, who was kidnapped and tortured by unknown assailants.[45][46]
On 22 April 2019, Wine was detained while attempting to make his way to a planned concert at his private club in southern Kampala, which was cancelled by police.[47] He was accused of leading a protest in the city the previous year without prior police authorization; the protest was held against the "social media tax" which took effect in July 2018.[48][49] On 29 April 2019, on his way to the offices of the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) to honour a summons and provide a statement on the cancelled concert, Wine was again arrested and taken to Buganda Road Court, where he was charged with disobedience of statutory duty and remanded toLuzira Maximum Security Prison until his bail hearing on 2 May.[50] In a statement the following day,Amnesty International demanded his immediate release and urged the Ugandan government to "stop misusing the law in a shameless attempt to silence him for criticizing the government."[51] On the day of the hearing, which was conducted viavideo conferencing (the first time in the history of Uganda's justice system), Wine was granted bail and released from prison, with the court also barring him from holding unlawful demonstrations.[52]
On 24 July 2019, Wine formally announced his bid to run for president in the 2021 general election.[53] On 22 July 2020, he announced that he had joined theNational Unity Platform party, becoming elected its president and presidential flag-bearer in the upcoming February 2021 general election.[54] Wine was formally nominated to run for the presidency on 3 Nov 2020. Shortly after his nomination, Wine was arrested by the Ugandan military.[55]
On 6 November 2020, he launched his campaign manifesto inMbarara (western Uganda) after state operatives cordoned off his NUP party offices, preventing him from launching the manifesto from there as planned.[56]
On 18 November 2020, Wine was arrested in Luuka District (Eastern Uganda) and detained at Nalufenya Police Station in Jinja for 3 days. According to theDaily Monitor newspaper, "Police accused Mr Kyagulanyi of having more than 200 supporters recommended by the EC to contain further spread ofCovid-19."[57]
His arrest was met by widespread demonstrations around the country, mostly in parts of Kampala, Masaka, Jinja, Mukono, Mbale and Wakiso. Although the Uganda police alleged that only 54 people were killed, human rights activists put the figure at more than 100 murdered and several others injured,
Over 2000 people were incarcerated during the subsequent protests.[58][59]
Wine's bodyguard, Francis Senteza, was killed on 27 December 2020, after being run over by a truck belonging to the military police. He was attacked while helping to transport a journalist critically injured by tear gas during an earlier confrontation between the police and a group of Wine's supporters. Another journalist was also wounded in the incident.[60]
On 16 January the electoral commission announced that Museveni won reelection with 58.6% of the vote. Wine refused to accept the results, claiming that the election was the most fraudulent in Uganda's history.[61]
Wine was placed under house arrest on 15 January, shortly after casting his vote for the presidential election. The military surrounded his home and did not let anyone in or out for several days, despite Wine claiming he had run out of food. The U.S. ambassador to Uganda,Natalie E. Brown was not allowed to visit or leave food for him as the military blocked the convoy.[62] Wine was released on 26 January after the Ugandan High Court ordered security forces to end the house arrest.[63]On 1 February, Wine challenged the 2021 elections in court, but later ordered his lawyers to withdraw the case citing bias from the judges, after photos were seen of the chief justice with President Museveni, who was the correspondent party to the lawsuit.
On 3 September 2024, Bobi Wine was injured after being shot in his left leg with a tear gas canister by police during a confrontation inBulindo,Kira inWakiso District.[64]
Bobi Wine seeks to unseatYoweri Museveni for the second time through contesting in the2026 presidential elections, he picked nomination forms from the electoral commission to allow him to contest in the race.[65][66][67][68] However, his nomination hope diminished when the electoral commission indicated that he had not submitted enough required signatures.[69][70][71]
On 24 September 2025, he was nominated as the National Unity Platform Presidency flagbearer by the Electoral Commission ahead of the 2026 general elections.[72][73]
On 6 December 2025, Bobi Wine and several supporters and staff were attacked and beaten by security forces while campaigning inGulu.[74]
On 16 January 2026, Wine was reportedly abducted by Ugandan army forces following deadlyprotests after the election.[75] However, Wine said that he was in hiding following a raid by security forces on his home. On 17 January, Wine was declared to have lost the election with 24.72% of the vote, with international observers denouncingvoter intimidation and accusing the government of "instilling fear."[76] On 19 January, military commanderMuhoozi Kainerugaba issued a 48-hour ultimatum for Wine's surrender.[77] As of 23 January, Wine was in hiding.[78] Over the night of 23 January, Wine said that soldiers invaded his residence, held his wifeBarbara Kyagulanyi at gunpoint, partially stripped her and choked her, and that she was subsequently hospitalized; Wine said the soldiers also took money, documents, and electronics.[79]
Wine has supported several practical projects to improve conditions for the poor.[17] In 2012, he started a campaign to promote more regular cleaning in hospitals, sanitation, garbage management, and hand-washing to prevent disease.[80] AYouTube video from September 2012 shows him joining Kampala Lord MayorErias Lukwago in cleaning up Kamwookya, the slum neighborhood where Wine grew up.[80] The same year, he also donated funds to build pit latrines and construct a drainage channel in Kisenyi II, a Kampala slum that theNew Vision described as being "characterized by filth, crowded shanty structures, poor sanitation and lack of basic social facilities." Wine explained that he embarked on the project "because these are my people, and no matter where I go, this will always be home."[17]
He has also campaigned for malaria prevention, with donations to Nakasongola Health Centre, and references to the disease in his songs.[81]
In August 2013, Wine visited the Bundibugyo Refugee Camp inBundibugyo District, along with representatives fromSave the Children,UNHCR, and theRed Cross, to deliver funds and supplies.[82] The following month, he was named as a parenting ambassador by Twaweza, an NGO that focuses on education and citizen engagement inEast Africa; his message in this partnership was to promote responsible parenting among his Ugandan fans. In an interview about the project, he said that "education is what will ultimately change the course of our country and as an artist and a father, I believe we can all make a difference in our children's learning."[83]
In 2014, Wine was named as an ambassador for Save the Children's EVERY ONE campaign, joining a team of 14 Ugandan artists who recorded a special song and video about maternal and child health. Other leading artists in the video includedJose Chameleone, and Radio and Weasel, who made up theGoodlyfe Crew.[84] Wine and his wife Barbara travelled to hospitals throughout Uganda, includingNakaseke Hospital, meeting with midwives and health workers to popularize the campaign.[81] Save the Children also took him to other regions for the campaign, includingNyumanzi Refugee Settlement in northwestern Uganda forSouth Sudanese people.[85] Currently, Bobi Wine is the Patron of a girls and teen mothers empowerment Non-Government Organization called Caring Hearts Uganda, founded by his wife Barbie Kyagulanyi.
Wine was scheduled to perform a show inDubai,United Arab Emirates on 8 October 2022, and the proceeds from the show were going to be used to repatriate Ugandans stranded in the United Arab Emirates. However, the show was canceled by the United Arab Emirates government on unknown grounds and upon arrival in Dubai, Wine was detained at the airport for ten hours. He was later released and he spoke to his supporters.[86][87][88]
 | This"criticism" or "controversy" sectionmay compromise the article'sneutrality. Please helpintegrate negative information into other sections or removeundue focus on minor aspects throughdiscussion on thetalk page.(December 2024) |
Wine is often outspoken about political and social issues in Uganda, generating some controversy. Until January 2019, he had a long-standing feud with fellow Ugandan musicianBebe Cool, who has sung in support of President Museveni and the NRM, while Wine has supported opposition interests.[89][90]
In July 2014, it was announced that Wine was to perform in the United Kingdom atThe Drum Arts Centre inBirmingham and theTroxy inLondon.[91] This led to calls for a ban because of his lyrics expressing opinions against homosexuality.[92] Both venues subsequently cancelled Wine's appearances.[93][94] In a May 2016 Twitter exchange with ULC Monastery LGBTI, an American Christian group that promotes tolerance toward the LGBT community, Wine suggested that he had moved away from his previous homophobic comments, but did not specifically state that his views on homosexuality had changed.[95] In 2023, the United Kingdom's travel ban against Wine, imposed in 2014, was lifted.[96]
In 2015, Wine publicly defended theBuganda kingdom's fundraising efforts when it was harshly criticized by the outspoken Sheikh Muzaata, stirring up a war of words.[97] Wine has at times been known asOmubanda wa Kabaka (the King's Rogue) for his devotion to theKabaka (King) of Buganda.[98]
In April 2016, when Uganda's only radiotherapy machine inMulago broke down, Wine took a leading position in widespread public anger at the slow official response and posted a critique of the government's handling of public health care, challenging the country's leaders to make better use of citizens' taxes.[99][100]
Throughout the 2015–16 election period, Wine refocused his messages to call for tolerance of different views.[101] Wine's public calls for calm activism during the 2016 election, with songs such as "Dembe", provoked mixed reactions from different political interests in Uganda. During this period, theUganda Communications Commission denied that it had banned "Dembe" from Ugandan radio.[102] Three months after the election, the U.S. Ambassador to UgandaDeborah R. Malac invited Wine to a formal embassy event and commented that he was a positive influence for local youth.[103]
When the Ugandan government turned off social media during the2016 election, Wine used avirtual private network to post his defiance to the communications shutdown on his Facebook page while also pointing out that the government continued to use social media during the shutdown they initiated.[104][105] Wine was later chosen as a panellist to speak about freedom of expression onWorld Press Freedom Day in Kampala in May 2016.[106] In March 2016, he defended the right of his artistic rivals to express views that Wine himself does not support.[107]
In August 2020, Wine was dragged to court on charges of falsifying information, obtaining registration by false pretence and uttering false documents.[108][109]
On 3 November 2020, Wine was arrested after his nomination to the election body for the upcoming general election was certified. A statement on his officialTwitter account said he was violently arrested outside the nomination venue, temporarily blinded and brutalised by police and the military.[110]
While studying atMakerere University, Wine met his wife,Barbara Itungo, also known as Barbie, who at the time was anS6 student atBweranyangi Girls' Senior Secondary School. Their wedding took place in August 2011 after ten years of living together. They have four children.[111] Wine and his family reside in Magere Village,Wakiso District, where he ensures they "go together to dig and get food, whenever we can. I do that because I want them to learn to live an ordinary life, not as a celebrity's children."[112]
On 10 February 2015, Wine's father died after a lengthy battle with diabetes.[113] The vigil and burial attracted hundreds of mourners including government officials and other celebrities.[114] One month later, Wine released the song "Paradiso", about valuing your parents while they are still alive.[115]
Wine was featured in a 2022 documentary film entitledBobi Wine: The People's President, which was nominated forBest Documentary Feature Film at the96th Academy Awards.[116] Wine isCatholic.
Sourcer:[65]
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Pearl of Africa Music Awards | Song of the Year | "Mama Mbiire"(withJuliana Kanyomozi) | Won | [117] |
| 2006 | Pearl of Africa Music Awards | Best Afro Beat Single | "Bada" | Won | [118] |
| Artist of the Year | Bobi Wine | Won | |||
| Tanzania Music Awards | Best East African Album | Mama Mbiire | Nominated | [119] | |
| 2007 | Pearl of Africa Music Awards | Best Afro Beat Single | "Kiwani" | Won | [120] |
| Best Afro Beat Artiste/Group | Bobi Wine | Won | |||
| Kisima Music Awards | Best Song Uganda | "Bada" | Nominated | [121] | |
| 2008 | Pearl of Africa Music Awards | Best Afro Beat Artiste/Group | Bobi Wine | Won | [122] |
| 2009 | MTV Africa Music Awards | Best Video | "Little Things You Do"(Wahu featuring Bobi Wine) | Nominated | [123] |
| 2013 | HiPipo Music Awards | Artist of the Year | Bobi Wine | Nominated | [124] |
| Best Male Artist | Bobi Wine | Nominated | |||
| Best Ragga/Dancehall Song | "By Far" | Nominated | |||
| Best Afrobeat Song | "Jennifer" | Won | [125] | ||
| 2018 | Zzina Awards | Afro-Beat Song of the Year | "Kyarenga" | Nominated | [126] |
| Male Artiste of the Year | Bobi Wine | Won | |||
| Artiste of the Year | Bobi Wine | Nominated | |||
| Song of the Year | "Kyarenga" | Won |
Discography adapted fromSpotify.[131]
Albums
Singles and extended plays
Media related toBobi Wine at Wikimedia Commons
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
| Other | |