Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu famously known as Bobi Wine the embattled politician in Uganda finally has managed to hold his concert. This after several hitches by the government that stopped the concert which was meant to be held after his visit in Kenya.
As you can remember Bobi Wine suffered under the dictatorship rule of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni. Bobi wine is a strong critic of Museveni’s style of governance.
He rose to fame as a musician — first with love songs and dance songs, but more recently turned to political themes in his music. His 2017 song “Freedom” has become a rallying cry for the country’s opposition.
In the same year, Wine was elected to the country’s Parliament as an independent.
He’s become a leader in opposing the country’s longtime President Yoweri Museveni — in power since 1986. Museveni is known for violently crushing dissent. Human Rights Watch says the government “continues to violate free association, expression, and assembly rights.”
“We are living in a country where life does not mean a thing,” Wine tells NPR’s Scott Simon.
Wine came into NPR’s offices in Washington, D.C. this week. He was walking with a crutch. “I’m feeling pain in my back, in my shoulders, in various parts of my body. But my spirit is high and I don’t think about pain anymore,” he says.
If you decide to love me….. #KyarengaBusabala pic.twitter.com/jCT44vXufM
— BOBI WINE (@HEBobiwine) November 10, 2018
He was arrested in mid-August after clashes between opposition supporters and supporters of Uganda’s ruling party. Security forces accused Wine of fomenting the violence and arrested him. Wine was later released and promptly rearrested and charged with treason, along with 33 others, according to Amnesty International.
Thank you @eddykenzoficial 🔥🔥#KyarengaBusabala pic.twitter.com/sDnKyqPSAT
— BOBI WINE (@HEBobiwine) November 10, 2018
Wine says security forces beat him severely and tortured him. He wrote on Facebook that soldiers broke down the door of a hotel room where he had holed up and beat him with an iron bar, then dragged him into a vehicle and continued to beat him.
Since then Bobi Wine managed to receive treatment and returned to Uganda.
What a day, What a Night, What a Show! THANK YOU to the tens of thousands of friends, supporters and fans who came down to One Love Beach Busabala last night for the #KyarengaConcert. pic.twitter.com/vTAzAB50xm
— BOBI WINE (@HEBobiwine) November 11, 2018
Finally he held his concert and people turned out in large numbers and filled the stadium. Among those who performed include Eddy Kenzo and Jose Chameleon.
DO YOU THINK BOBI WINE IS THE UGANDA’S SAVIOUR?