Fighting Bobi Wine

Shortly after, he got emboldened and released `Situka’ (Rise Up), calling on Ugandans to rise up and fight for the change they desire. Then months later he got even bolder and sang `Freedom’, calling on Ugandans to fight for their freedom. For months the song was banned by government—mainstream media could not play it.

Thanks to the ban the song enjoyed massive circulation on social media and helped spread Bobi Wine’s message further and further.

But Bobi Wine’s political vigour became even clearer once he got into parliament. When soldiers belonging to the Special Forces Command invaded parliament to force through debate to scrap presidential age limits from the Constitution to clear the way for Museveni to extend his 32-year rule, Bobi Wine was at the forefront of fighting them.

Months later, Bobi Wine would find himself in another clash with SFC that nearly cost him his life but that also thrust his struggle onto international stage. On Aug.13, SFC soldiers kidnapped and tortured him together with other legislators who were campaigning for a colleague.

Bobi Wine was detained and denied access to his family, doctors and lawyers. Security operatives accused him of endangering the President’s convoy claiming one of the presidential cars was stoned. They also accused him of illegally possessing firearms, a charge that was later withdrawn as soon as he was arraigned before the military court martial.

The entire ordeal earned Bobi Wine major sympathy both locally and internationally. Touched by Bobi Wine’s experience, Rikki Stein, the former manager of Fela Kuti, called on his international networks to exert pressure against Museveni’s government to release Bobi Wine. Consequently, overwhelming international pressure led to Bobi’s release to allow him go abroad and secure medical treatment.

While Bobi Wine was in the U.S., his international lawyer Robert Amsterdam held a press conference for him at which the legislator addressed the international press cementing his place on Uganda’s political stage.

At the time, government spokesperson, Ofwono Opondo said Bobi Wine was “a passing cloud that will soon fade away with time”. Kyagulanyi meanwhile pledged win the fight for freedom or die trying. How he deals with the current ban of his concerts will determine how far he is willing to go with this pledge.