Since his transition to public life, Bobi Wine’s vocal opposition to Uganda President Yoweri Museveni’s unrelenting hold on the presidency has made him a target of the administration. And after suffering reprehensible physical abuse from the politically-motivated Ugandan security forces last year, the parliamentarian’s message resonated more powerfully than ever before with Uganda’s majority youth population in part of what’s come to be known as the ‘People Power’ movement.
But President Museveni’s administration continues doing whatever it can to turn up the pressure on Bobi and his followers in order to mitigate the most serious threat to his continued rule – but Bobi is not so easily discouraged.
Pop star turned MP Bobi Wine is making plans for a bigger political stage in the country and says he has launched a grassroots movement for young people aimed at challenging the country’s longtime leader President Yoweri Museveni.
Speaking with CNN’s Robyn Curnow Wine said he is “seriously considering” running for president in 2021 where he is expected to face Museveni who has ruled Uganda since 1986. Museveni has changed the constitution twice to extend his stay in office, although he has not declared his intention to contest in the next elections.
Wine said dictatorships have thrived in Africa by suppressing young people, and getting young voters to the polls could help change the game. “Ugandans cannot be free unless they free themselves from military rule and lawless rule,” Wine said.“We started a campaign calling upon all people of Uganda, especially the young people that have been so apathetic to go ahead and register themselves and be voters. Not just supporters but voters.”“We believe that by the time we get to the election which is about two years away, we will have many Ugandans registered as voters and overwhelming Museveni looks like our only way out.”However a spokesman for the Ugandan government, Ofwono Opondo, dismissed the MP as presumptuous.“Wine is being presumptive, perhaps to ride on Museveni’s name to gain some international attention. Otherwise, it is his right to do so if he really wants to run for the Presidency of Uganda,” Opondo said in an emailed statement to CNN.“It’s not up to Museveni to prepare a handover. His job is to ensure elections are organized and held, regularly and on time and the winner according to the popular vote will lead Uganda,” he added.