Uganda: Controversial musician Bobi Wine to run for top job in 2021

Ugandan musician-turned-lawmaker, Robert Kyagulanyi, better known as as the “ghetto president” has vowed to rock the halls of power with a run for the top job in the East African nation.

According to Bobi Wine, incumbent President Yoweri Museveni’s 33 years in power was “a dictatorship”.

Museveni has described Wine as an enemy of prosperity, and in November called riot police to deal with his opponent.

Speaking to reporters in Kampla, Wine says he decided to run for president because Museveni has lost touch with young Ugandans. Bobi Wine faces multiple challenges, including limited opportunities to hold rallies or stage concerts ahead of elections.

“Museveni believes that the way to deal with our generation is to deal with the young man that represents it, that’s Bobi Wine. Blocking my musical shows, blocking me from any public interactions. Trying to make it hard for me to speak to the people out there. In my opinion, he seems to be fighting with a ghost he cannot touch,” Wine said.

Bobi was wearing his signature red beret, which he has called a “symbol of resistance”, a look copied by dozens of his supporters in recent months. The red beret was banned by the government.

Earlier this year, Uganda’s Supreme Court upheld a decision to remove an age cap of 75 for presidential contenders, paving the way for Museveni to run again in 2021.