THIS WEEK: Bobi wine is African personality of the Year

THIS WEEK: Bobi wine is African personality of the Year

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT |  Musician and Politician Robert Kyagulanyi Sentamu aka Bobi Wine has been declared African Personality of the year 2018 by the African Leadership Magazine. He beat Rwanda President Paul Kagame and Ethiopia Prime Minister Abih Ahmed who too were nominated in this category in awards that are held annually.

The vote conducted on-line saw Bobi Wine who was chosen for his recent political activism winning with 85% of the vote followed by Abih with 7%, Kagame 4% and the Ebola fighters of the DR Congo also coming out with 4%.

Bobi Wine started his political activism as soon as he won the Kyaddondo East MP slot in parliament where he started with a fight in parliament not to amend the constitution to remove presidential term limits at the end of 2017, then he resisted the introduction of taxes on mobile money and social media and the latest was the Arua Saga where after a campaign rally, he and colleagues were arrested and tortured by security operatives for allegedly attacking the presidential motorcade. Because of his political activism, he has had several of his music concerts cancelled.

Others who have won this award before are writer and activist Kemi Seba who got it in 2017 and Dr. Dennis Mukwege a 2018 Nobel Peace Prize winner and Congolese gynecologist scoped it in 2016 for his role in advancing women’s rights and maternal health.