Bobi Wine facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bobi Wine
Wine in 2024
President of the National Unity Platform
Incumbent
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 43) Nkozi, Uganda
Political party	National Unity Platform
Spouse	Barbie Kyagulanyi ​ (m. 2011)​
Children	4
Education	Makerere University (Diploma in Music, Dance, and Drama) Cavendish University Uganda (Bachelor of Laws)

Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu (born 12 February 1982), known by his stage name Bobi Wine, is a Ugandan activist, politician, singer, lawyer, and actor. He used to be a Member of Parliament for the Kyadondo County East area in Uganda. He also leads a political group called the National Unity Platform.

In 2019, he announced he would run for president in the 2021 Ugandan election. He took part in the election but officially lost to the current president, Yoweri Museveni. However, Bobi Wine said the election results were not fair.

In December 2021, the Ugandan government placed him under house arrest. He kept speaking out against his arrest. Later, he was allowed to travel abroad. There, he shared information about the 2021 election through a documentary. When he returned to Uganda in October 2023, he was arrested again. A documentary film called Bobi Wine: The People's President showed his journey during the 2021 election. This film won a special award called the Peabody Award.

Early life and education

Kyagulanyi was born in Nkozi Hospital in Uganda. His mother worked there as a midwife. He grew up in a busy, less wealthy area called Kamwokya in Kampala, Uganda's capital city.

He went to Kitante Hill School and Kololo Senior Secondary School. After that, he studied music, dance, and drama at Makerere University in Kampala. He earned a diploma in 2003. Later, in 2016, Kyagulanyi started studying law at the International University of East Africa. He then moved to Cavendish University Uganda and finished his law degree in August 2024.

Entertainment career

Music career

Kyagulanyi started his music career in the early 2000s. He chose the stage name Bobi Wine, inspired by his real name Robert and the famous musician Bob Marley. His first songs like "Akagoma" and "Funtula" became very popular in Uganda.

His music style includes reggae, dancehall, and afrobeat. Many of his songs carry important messages about society. He used to lead a music group called Fire Base Crew. After it ended, he started a new group called Ghetto Republic of Uganja. He has released over 70 songs during his career.

In 2016, his song "Kiwani" was part of the music for the Disney movie Queen of Katwe. Bobi Wine's main music style is Afrobeat. He has a popular YouTube channel with many views. He also performs in concerts and works with brands. He owns a music studio in Kamwokya called FireBase records.

The Bobi Wine Edutainment

Bobi Wine

In 2006, Bobi Wine started making music that both entertains and teaches. He focused on sharing important messages, especially with people living in the less wealthy areas of Kampala. Some of his well-known songs include "Ghetto" and "Time Bomb."

These songs often encouraged politicians to care more for people in need. They also asked regular citizens to be more responsible in their communities. Topics in his music included cleanliness, health for mothers, child pregnancies, child marriages, and HIV/AIDS.

Because his music connected so well with people, he earned the nickname "Ghetto President." This helped him become well-known in Ugandan politics later on.

Film career

Kyagulanyi is also an actor in Ugandan movies. In 2010, he acted in the drama film Yogera. In 2015, he played a main role in the film Situka. He has also worked on other films, including Divizionz.

Bobi Wine even had his own TV show called The Ghetto President.

He is featured in the 2022 documentary Bobi Wine: The People's President. This film was shot over five years. It follows Bobi Wine and his wife during his campaign for the 2021 Presidential election. The documentary won a Peabody Award in 2024 and was nominated for an Oscar.

Political career

In April 2017, Kyagulanyi announced he would run for a seat in parliament. He campaigned by walking door-to-door, which got a lot of attention. He won the election by a large amount. He beat two experienced candidates from other political parties.

In 2018, Kyagulanyi became even more famous. He helped many candidates he supported win elections. This showed his growing influence in Ugandan politics.

Arua incident

In August 2018, there was an incident in Arua, a town in northern Uganda. After this, Kyagulanyi was arrested. He was charged with certain offenses. Reports said he appeared to have been hurt before going to court. A lawyer who saw him said he needed urgent medical help. The government said he was not tortured.

Many people in Uganda protested, demanding Kyagulanyi's release. The charges against him were later dropped in the military court. However, he was arrested again and charged in a civilian court. In September 2018, Kyagulanyi was released on bail. He traveled to the United States for medical care for his injuries. The Ugandan government stopped his supporters from gathering when he was released and when he returned. Still, he spoke to his supporters outside his home when he came back to Uganda.

In August 2019, Kyagulanyi was charged again related to the Arua incident. This happened a day after another Ugandan musician, Ziggy Wine, who was also a critic of the president, died after being kidnapped.

2021 presidential election

On 24 July 2019, Kyagulanyi officially announced he would run for president in the 2021 election. In July 2020, he joined the National Unity Platform party. He became its president and the party's choice for president in the election. Kyagulanyi was officially approved to run for president on 3 November 2020. Soon after, the Ugandan military arrested him.

On 6 November 2020, he launched his campaign plans in Mbarara. This happened after government workers blocked his party offices, stopping him from launching his plans there.

On 18 November 2020, Kyagulanyi was arrested in Luuka District. He was held at Nalufenya Police Station for three days. Police said he had too many supporters with him, which was against rules to stop the spread of Covid-19.

His arrest led to many protests across the country. Human rights groups said that many people were killed and injured during these protests. Over 2000 people were arrested.

On 27 December 2020, Kyagulanyi's bodyguard, Francis Senteza, was killed. He was hit by a military police truck. This happened while he was helping a journalist who was hurt by tear gas during a clash between police and Kyagulanyi's supporters. Another journalist was also injured.

On 16 January, the election group announced that President Museveni had won the election. Bobi Wine did not accept the results. He said the election was the most unfair in Uganda's history.

Kyagulanyi was placed under house arrest on 15 January, right after he voted. The military surrounded his home and did not let anyone in or out for several days. Bobi Wine said he ran out of food. The U.S. ambassador was not allowed to visit him or bring food. Kyagulanyi was released on 26 January after a Ugandan court ordered the security forces to end the house arrest.

On 1 February, Kyagulanyi challenged the 2021 election results in court. But he later told his lawyers to stop the case. He felt the judges were not fair, especially after photos showed the chief justice with President Museveni.

Tear gas injury

On September 3, 2024, Bobi Wine was injured during a disagreement with police. He was hit in his left leg by a tear gas canister in Bulindo, Kira in Wakiso District.

Humanitarian work

Kyagulanyi has helped with many projects to make life better for people in need. In 2012, he started a campaign to encourage cleaning hospitals, managing trash, and washing hands to stop diseases. A video from September 2012 shows him helping clean up Kamwookya, the area where he grew up.

That same year, he gave money to build toilets and a water channel in Kisenyi II, another less wealthy area in Kampala. He said he did this because "these are my people, and no matter where I go, this will always be home."

He has also worked to prevent malaria. He donated to a health center and mentioned the disease in his songs.

In August 2013, Kyagulanyi visited a refugee camp. He brought money and supplies with groups like Save the Children and the Red Cross. The next month, he became an ambassador for Twaweza, a group that helps with education. His message was to encourage parents to be responsible. He said, "education is what will ultimately change the course of our country."

In 2014, Kyagulanyi became an ambassador for Save the Children's EVERY ONE campaign. He joined other Ugandan artists to make a song and video about health for mothers and children. Bobi Wine and his wife, Barbara, visited hospitals across Uganda. They met with health workers to promote the campaign.

Currently, Bobi Wine supports a group called Caring Hearts Uganda. This group helps girls and young mothers. His wife, Barbie Kyagulanyi, started it.

In October 2022, Kyagulanyi was supposed to perform in Dubai. The money from the show would help Ugandans stuck in the United Arab Emirates. However, the government in Dubai canceled the show. When he arrived in Dubai, Kyagulanyi was held at the airport for ten hours before being released.

Personal life

Kyagulanyi met his wife, Barbara Itungo, while they were both studying at Makerere University. They got married in August 2011 after being together for ten years. They have four children. Kyagulanyi and his family live in Magere Village. He makes sure they "go together to dig and get food, whenever we can." He does this so his children learn to live a normal life, not just as a celebrity's kids.

On 10 February 2015, Kyagulanyi's father passed away after a long illness. Many people, including government officials and celebrities, attended the funeral. A month later, Kyagulanyi released a song called "Paradiso." The song's message is to value your parents while they are still alive.

Kyagulanyi was featured in the 2022 documentary film Bobi Wine: The People's President. This film was nominated for an Oscar.

Awards and honours

Awards and nominations

Other honours

• 2018 Africanews Personality of the Year
• 2019 Foreign Policy Global Thinkers
• 2019 Rainbow/PUSH International Humanitarian Award
• 2019 Friedrich Naumann Foundation Africa Freedom Prize
• 2021 Bobi Wine was named the Outstanding Entrepreneurial Artist by Janzi Awards
• 2022 Bobi Wine and others received an award at the Forty Under 40 Africa awards in Accra, Ghana.

Discography

Discography adapted from Spotify.

Albums

• 2015: Bobi Wange
• 2015: Hosanah
• 2015: Kansubize
• 2015: Ontabira
• 2015: Sweet
• 2018: Kyarenga

Singles and extended plays

• 2015: "Ayagala Mulaasi"
• 2017: "Freedom"
• 2018: "Kyarenga"
• 2019: "Tuliyambala Engule"
• 2020: "Corona Virus Alert"

Filmography

• 2008: Divisionz
• 2010: Yogera
• 2015: Situka as Muganga
• 2016: Omubanda wakabaka (2012-2016 TV Series)
• 2022: Bobi Wine: The People's President

See also

In Spanish: Bobi Wine para niños