Bobi Wine is Officially Running for the Ugandan Presidency in 2021

UPDATE 07/25: Ugandan artist-turned-politician Bobi Wine, real name Robert Kyagulanyi, officially announced that he will be running for the Ugandan presidency at a recent event in Kampala. Wine, who has been a member of parliament for two years, is referring to himself as the "ghetto president" and says that he wants to be the voice for the poor especially, according to the BBC.

Announcing his candidacy, Wine said that, "On behalf of the people of Uganda I am challenging you [Mr Museveni] to a free and fair election in 2021." He added that, "I know the danger I am going to face to challenge Museveni but I have been encouraged by Ugandans that I am the leader they want."

While Wine is particularly popular among the youth, criticisms of his leadership have centered on how he has yet to deliver a concrete plan of action in terms of tackling issues such as unemployment, poor healthcare and education. And although Museveni has been quick to dismiss Wine as a mere "club singer", it goes without saying that this is the first time that the head-of-state's three-decade rule has been seriously challenged.

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After Ugandan artist Bobi Wine was recently arrested on charges of holding an "illegal" anti-government protest last year, he has now announced that he will be running for the country's presidency in 2021. The artist-turned-politician is the leader of the opposition movement called People Power and previously talked about how he was "strongly considering" running for president back in February.

According to Al Jazeera, Wine has spoken about the concern he has for his personal safety saying, "I live every day as it comes, not being sure of the next day. I am not blind to the fact that the regime wants me dead and wants me dead as soon as possible." He also added that, "There has never been a threat to this regime like the threat we pose to it today as a generation."

Wine, who was elected into parliament in 2017, has quickly built up a good rapport with the youth and his popularity has for the first time posed a real threat to Museveni's three-decade rule.

However, Wine's political endeavors have been met with great resistance by the current Ugandan government.

The artist has spoken on numerous occasions about how the Ugandan government has made multiple attempts on his life. Wine referred to an incident which occurred last year and left his driver dead, saying, "[Mr Museveni] gave an instruction that I should be eliminated. I know he will try to block me from running as he has not received any serious challenge in 34 years."