Robert
Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, known by his stage name Bobi Wine, is a Ugandan
politician, activist, singer, actor, businessman and philanthropist. As of 11
July 2017, he serves as the member of parliament representing Kyadondo East
constituency in Wakiso District, in Uganda's Central Region. He leads the
People Power, Our Power movement in opposition to President Yoweri Museveni.
Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu was born on 12
February 1982 in Nkozi Hospital,
where his late mother worked. He grew up in the Kamwookya slum in the
northeastern part of Kampala,
the capital city of Uganda.
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. He then
attended Makerere University in Kampala, where he studied music, dance, and drama, graduating
with a Diploma in 2003.
In 2016 Bobi Wine went back to University to attain a bachelor’s degree in law at the International University of East Africa (IUEA), where he got in contact with David Lewis Lubongoya, then, his administrative law lecturer, and now people power movement chief executive secretary.
Music career
Kyagulanyi began his music career in the early 2000s, and adapted the stage name Bobi Wine. His first singles "Akagoma", "Funtula", and "Sunda" (featuring Ziggy D) brought him success in the East African music scene. His music has been characterized as 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.
In 2016, his song "Kiwani" was featured on the soundtrack for the Disney movie Queen of Katwe.
Film career
Bobi Wine 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.
Political career
In April 2017, Kyagulanyi announced his candidacy for parliament in an upcoming by-election for the Kyaddondo East Constituency. His door-to-door walking campaign attracted attention both in Uganda and abroad He won the contest by a wide margin, beating two seasoned candidates: Sitenda Sebalu of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party and Apollo Kantinti of the main opposition party Forum for Democratic Change (FDC).
In 2018, Kyagulanyi gained increasing fame, championing the victories in most of the by-elections by the candidates he campaigned for, thus beating out NRM and FDC candidates.
