Bobi Wine, born Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, is a Ugandan politician, performer, and activist born on February 12, 1982.

He initially gained recognition for his music, which he called “edutainment,” blending education and entertainment.

Wine is known for his criticism of President Yoweri Museveni and his administration.

In 2017, he became the MP for Kyadondo East constituency.

Wine founded the People Power movement and leads the National Unity Platform (NUP) political party.

Since 2017, Wine has faced house arrest, detention, torture, and arrests on criminal charges, which he and his supporters say are politically motivated.

Early Life, Family, and Education

Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu is one of several children of Margaret Nalunkuuma and Jackson Wellington Ssentamu. Kyagulanyi’s family has a history of political involvement: his grandfather was a rebel who fought on the same side as Museveni during that leader’s rebel days, and his father was a politician in the foremost opposition party.

The latter was sentenced to death during the regime of the President. Milton Obote had to go into exile, leaving Kyagulanyi’s mother to raise him and several of his siblings in Kamwokya, an impoverished area in Kampala, Uganda’s capital.

He was a strong student but attended several different primary and secondary schools, as he later explained,to avoid paying school fees that his family could not afford.

Kyagulanyi entered Makerere University in Kampala, initially to study for a social science degree, but he later switched programs, and in 2003, he graduated with a diploma in music, dance, and drama.

He returned to school in 2016, this time to study law.

Kyagulanyi first enrolled at the International University of East Africa and later transferred to Cavendish University Uganda, both in Kampala.

He graduated from the latter institution with a Bachelor of Laws degree in 2024.

Kyagulanyi met Barbara (Barbie)Itungo whilst still enrolled at Makerere University when they were working on a play together.

They later started dating and got married in 2011. They have four children together.

Career: Musician and an Actor

Wine’s music career started in the early 2000s.

The main genres of his music are reggae, dancehall, and afrobeat.

He had many popular music singles, including “Akagoman,” “Funtala,” and “Sunda.”

He led the band Fire Base Crew until the group was disbanded in 2007.

Afterward, he started a group called the Ghetto Republic of Uganda.

Wine has released more than 70 songs.

He also had a film career in local Ugandan movies, such as Cleopatra Koheirwe’s 2010 drama Yogera, and he had a lead role in the 2019 film Situka with Hellen Lukoma.

Political Debut

In April 2017, 35-year-old Bobi Wine’s political career began when he announced his candidacy for the Ugandan Parliament in a by-election for Kyadondo County East constituency.

He won the election by a wide margin, defeating two other candidates, Sitenda Sebalu of the ruling National Resistance Movement Party and Apollo Kantiniti of Forum for Democratic Change.

He soon became a target of the administration of President Yoweri Museveni.

Also Read:How Museveni Rose to Power and Changed Uganda’s Politics

On August 14, 2018, supporters of the independent candidate for parliament, Kassiano Wardri, attacked Museveni’s convoy in the northern town of Aru.

Wine, an outspoken critic of Museveni, declared on social media that police at the same time had shot at his vehicle, killing his driver.

Wine then endorsed Wardri’s candidacy against Museveni.

The next day, he was arrested for unlawful possession of firearms and incitement to violence.

A Ugandan court dismissed those charges, but on August 23, he was arrested again.

In this instance, the Ugandan State Prosecution withdrew the charges against him just before his trial began.

Wine was arrested a third time and charged with treason.

He was released on bail and traveled to the United States for medical treatment for injuries he allegedly received while in custody.

On July 24, 2019, Wine announced that he would run for president in the 2021 general election.

To promote his presidential bid, he joined the National Unity Platform Party.

Wine faced President Museveni in the 2021 Ugandan General election, where he lost to Museveni amid charges by his supporters of voter tampering and vote suppression.

Despite his loss, Wine vowed to remain active in Ugandan politics.

Awards and Honours

Music Awards (Career Achievements)

1.Pearl of Africa Music Awards (PAM)

2005 – Song of the Year for “Mama Mbiire” (with Juliana Kanyomozi) ; Won

2006 -Best Afro Beat Single (“Bada”) ; Won

2006 – Artist of the Year ;Won

2007- Best Afro Beat Single (“Kiwani”) ; Won

2007 -Best Afro Beat Artiste/Group ; Won

2008 -Best Afro Beat Artiste/Group ; Won

2.HiPipo Music Awards (HMA)

2013 -Several nominations (Artist of the Year, Best Male Artist, etc.) with Best Afrobeat Song “Jennifer” ; Won

2018/2019 -“Kyarenga” recognised with wins and nominations (Male Artist of the Year, Song of the Year)

Other music nominations included:

MTV Africa Music Awards (Best Video -nominated)

Tanzania Music Awards (Best East African Album -nominated)

Also Read: Uhuru Kenyatta: Education, Family, Net Worth and Career

Honours Beyond Music

International & Humanitarian Recognition

2018- Africa news Personality of the Year – honoured for his influence and voice in African affairs

2019 -Foreign Policy Global Thinkers; named among global thinkers by Foreign Policy magazine

2019 Rainbow/PUSH International Humanitarian Award – for advocacy on civil and human rights (presented by the Rainbow PUSH Coalition)

2019- Friedrich Naumann Foundation Africa Freedom Prize- recognition for his role in promoting democracy and freedom in Africa

Other Honours

2021 -Outstanding Entrepreneurial Artist by the Janzi Awards

2022 – Forty Under 40 Africa Awards (awarded in Accra, Ghana, jointly with collaborators)

2020 -Named among the 100 Most Influential Young Africans (Avance Media)

Documentary Recognition (Associated with Him)

While not a direct award to Bobi Wine personally, the widely acclaimed documentary Bobi Wine: The People’s President has brought global exposure:

IDA Documentary Award (Best Nonfiction Film) – won at the International Documentary Association’s awards

Oscar (Academy Awards) Nomination for Best Documentary Feature for the documentary highlighting his life and political struggle, a major international recognition connected to his story.

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HE Bobi Wine.. Uganda’s most vocal opposition leader
PHOTO/File/Bobi Wine