Bobi Wine

Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu (born 12 February 1982), known by his stage name Bobi Wine, is a Ugandan politician, singer, and actor.

He is a former Member of Parliament for Kyadondo County East constituency in Wakiso District, in Uganda's Central Region.

He also leads the National Unity Platform political party.

Kyagulanyi attended Kitante Hill School, where he attained his Uganda Certificate of Education in 1996, as well as Kololo Senior Secondary School, where he attained his Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education in 1998.

Kyagulanyi began his music career in the early 2000s, and adopted the stage name BobiRob, similar to his Christian given name, Robert, taking inspiration from Bob Marley who was also named Robert.

He later adapted the stage name Bobi Wine.

His first singles "Akagoma", "Funtula", and "Sunda" (featuring Ziggy D) brought him success in the Ugandan music scene.

His music has been characterised as kidandali, reggae, dancehall, and afrobeat, often with a socially conscious message.

He was the leader of the group Fire Base Crew until its disbandment, after which he started a new group known as Ghetto Republic of Uganja.

He has released more than 70 songs over 15 years.

He then attended Makerere University in Kampala, where he studied music, dance, and drama, graduating with a diploma in 2003.

Wine developed a humanitarian and politically focused musical genre in 2006, one which entertains while also conveying educational messages, particularly to the underprivileged residents of Kampala's suburbs, including the Ghetto.

Some notable works include "Ghetto" (featuring Nubian Li), "Obuyonjo," "Obululu Tebutwala," "Time Bomb," and others.

The messages contained in these music projects were typically aimed at politicians, urging them to take greater care of the underprivileged, as well as encouraging ordinary citizens to be more responsible in their communities.

Topics covered include hygiene, maternal health, child pregnancies, child marriages, domestic violence and HIV/AIDS.

Wine's music resonated strongly with the public, earning him the nickname "Ghetto President" and helping him establish a prominent position in Ugandan politics later in his career.

Kyagulanyi is also a film actor, mainly starring in local Ugandan movies.

In 2010, he was cast in Cleopatra Koheirwe's drama film Yogera.

In 2015, he was cast in a lead role in the Twaweza-supported film Situka with Hellen Lukoma.

He has also worked on a number of other films, including Divizionz.

Bobi Wine had his own reality TV show named The Ghetto President

He appears in the 2023 documentary Bobi Wine: The People's President directed by Moses Bwayo and Christopher Sharp.

It was shot over five years and follows Wine and his wife on the campaign trail leading to the 2021 Presidential election.

The documentary was nominated for Best Documentary Feature at the 2024 Oscars.

In 2016, Kyagulanyi returned to university to study Bachelor of Laws at the International University of East Africa.

In 2016, his song "Kiwani" was featured on the soundtrack for the Disney movie Queen of Katwe.

Bobi Wine’s major music genre has always been Afrobeat music.

Bobi Wine’s music was being sold and promoted by the late Kasiwukira.

He acknowledged receiving receipts of 60M from his music sales in just one month from Kasiwukira.

He has a fully Monetized YouTube channel with tens of millions of views.

He has held various concerts and performances in addition to brand endorsements all that bring income to him.

He owns a commercial production studio in Kamwokya known as FireBase records.

In June 2019, he announced his candidacy for the 2021 Ugandan presidential election.

He participated in the 2021 election, in which, according to official results, he lost to incumbent Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, although he claims this result was fraudulent.

On 14 December 2021, he was placed under house arrest by the Government of Uganda.

He has continued to protest his arrest.

He was eventually allowed to go abroad where he publicised through a documentary the corruption involved in 2021 election.

Upon his return to Uganda on 5 October 2023, he was arrested once again.

Kyagulanyi was born in Nkozi Hospital, where his mother worked as a midwife.

He grew up in the Kamwokya slum in the northeastern part of Kampala, the capital city of Uganda.