Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu (born 1982), widely known by his stage name Bobi Wine, is a Ugandan musician, actor, activist, and politician. Rising from the slums of Kampala to become a Member of Parliament and a presidential contender, he is the leader of the National Unity Platform (NUP) and the most prominent opposition figure challenging the decades-long rule of President Yoweri Museveni.
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Key Biographical Information
| Detail | Information |
| Full Name | Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu |
| Born | February 12, 1982, Nkozi, Uganda |
| Political Party | National Unity Platform (NUP) (President) |
| Former Office | Member of Parliament for Kyadondo County East (2017–2021) |
| Education | Makerere University (Music, Dance, and Drama); Law Development Centre (2018) |
| Nickname | “The Ghetto President” |
| Documentary | Bobi Wine: The People’s President (2022) |
The Rise of the “Ghetto President”
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Early Life: Wine grew up in the impoverished Kamwokya slums of Kampala. He leveraged his struggles and the environment to fuel his creative work.
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Music Career: Beginning in the early 2000s, he built a massive career in the East African music scene, becoming known for his blend of reggae, dancehall, and Afrobeat. He dubbed his later work “edutainment,” using socially conscious lyrics to address issues like poverty, corruption, and social justice.
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People Power Movement: His music and persona established him as the “Ghetto President,” a figure of hope for Uganda’s vast, young, and marginalized population. This evolved into the “People Power, Our Power” movement, a resistance group focused on generational change.
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Political Debut and Confrontation
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Entry into Parliament: In 2017, Wine successfully ran as an independent candidate for the Kyadondo County East by-election, winning by a landslide. His victory was seen as a major upset and a symbol of youth defiance against the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).
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ICC Case: He quickly became a vocal opponent of President Yoweri Museveni (who has ruled since 1986). In 2018, he was arrested and allegedly tortured following a political rally in Arua, an incident that brought international scrutiny to the regime.
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National Unity Platform (NUP): In 2020, Wine took over the leadership of the National Unity, Reconciliation and and Development Party (NURP), renaming it the National Unity Platform (NUP) to serve as the political vehicle for his movement.
The 2021 and 2026 Presidential Bids
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2021 Election: Wine challenged the incumbent Museveni in the 2021 presidential election. According to official results, he lost, receiving $35.08\%$ of the vote, but he and his supporters vehemently claimed the results were fraudulent, citing widespread voter tampering, military interference, and human rights abuses against his campaign team.
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Sustained Persecution: Since the 2021 election, Wine and his supporters have faced relentless pressure, including repeated arrests, detentions, torture, blocked rallies, and even violence from security forces. The attacks have continued into his campaign for the upcoming 2026 general elections, which he is currently contesting (as of late 2025).
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Documentary Recognition: The Emmy and Peabody Award-winning documentary, Bobi Wine: The People’s President (2022), chronicled his turbulent journey during the 2021 election, bringing his struggle against the authoritarian regime to a global audience.
Bobi Wine remains a powerful and galvanizing figure, representing the aspirations of Uganda’s youth for democratic change against one of Africa’s longest-serving rulers.