Despite the obstacles to his success, Bobi Wine continues to fight for change in Uganda.
Bobi Wine is somewhat of a legend in Uganda.
Primarily known as a reggae artist, his lyrics are permeated by narratives of social change that focus on the high levels of suffering prevalent in Uganda.
Much of the population is able to identify with the inequality and deprivation that Wine brings to life in his music, which has propelled him to the fame he knows today.
It is Bobi’s musical career that eventually drove him into politics. Wine ran as a member of Parliament in his area and succeeded in 2018. Since then, he has become a central figure in the opposition movement to the current government.
The role he now holds has become more of a curse than a blessing, though. The current ruling party, the National Resistance Movement, has been in power for 35 years under the leadership of Yoweri Museveni.
The length of this rule has allowed for a destruction of the political and democratic foundations of Uganda. Originally a revolutionary, Museveni has dismantled the free press and shown disdain for the principles of the rule of law and of human rights.
How then, does an opposing politician get their voice out? Bobi Wine is fortunate to have already been a public figure. His appeal isn’t limited to his fame – he is young and has proven his undying commitment to grassroots change.
This motivation has inspired a great many young Ugandans to rally their support around Wine. Not only are they showing up for rallies and elections, but they are also running for local councils and even Parliament.
Affiliations with Wine come with harsh consequences. In the past year, hundreds of Wine’s supporters have been arbitrarily detained or even abducted from their homes. These have been undertaken by the Ugandan military and information has been withheld from families as well as from other Ugandan authorities.
Bobi Wine has not been exempt from similar treatment, far from it. Since his overt political involvement in 2018, he has been continuously detained, beaten and was even shot at on the campaign trail.
What Bobi Wine does show, however, is a real dedication to his cause.
Despite all of the obstacles that he faces, in terms of the physical harm he has felt and the political impediments to his success, he has not given up. After every arrest, every incident, he returns to the streets to continue contesting Museveni’s power.
The amount of support he has garnered, and his appreciation for the rule of law, democratic principles and social justice, gives hope that Ugandans will soon see a government that reflects the change they want to see.
This article was originally written by Julie Luebken, a student at the University of Cambridge interested in digital politics, climate justice, and international relations. View her LinkedIn.
I’m a contributing writer here at Thred. My bio and contact information can be found at the bottom of each article. If you would like to become a remote writer for Thred, please email us at [email protected] or click here to see more information on the Change Maker Network.
The anticipation of having a baby is often clouded with uncertainty for Africa’s women as well as their families and healthcare providers due to an overwhelming number of pregnancy complications.
According to WHO, annually there are over 2 million stillbirths in the world, over half occurring in Sub-Saharan Africa.
These stillborn deaths are often preventable. Poor access to prenatal care, shortages of qualified health care providers, delayed responses to emergencies,...
Would people be more inclined to recycle their waste if they had a slim chance of winning $1,000 each time? Unsurprisingly, the data says yes.
A sense of moral responsibility or pang of guilt not cutting it? How about four figures of cold hard cash for that garbage?
Around 10 US states are already reimbursing people with a few cents for their empty bottles or cans, but what if the odd...
Dubbed ‘High Earners, Not Rich Yet’ (or Henrys), young Brits are feeling the pinch thanks to tax traps and inflation.
Unless you’ve found yourself in a high-paying job (or grew up with a silver spoon between your lips), £100k probably sounds like a lot of money. But young people earning these six figures claim to be struggling financially – both in the UK and across the pond.
Henrys, particularly...
Now he’s afraid he might get impeached.
Donald Trump’s election against Kamala Harris shocked many, with the former narrowly securing 49.8% of the popular vote compared to the latter’s 48.3%. He secured a clean sweep of all seven swing states, which ultimately secured him a second term.
What makes his return to the Oval Office striking is that he delivered exactly what he preached during his campaign. Prominently among these...
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.
0 comments
