With his charisma, tenacity and everyman appeal, music star Bobi Wine has shaken up Ugandan politics.
Since his career pivot a decade ago, the 43-year-old has become a major thorn in the side of President Yoweri Museveni, an 81-year-old who has been in power for 40 years.
Bobi Wine has enchanted legions of young Ugandans, a demographic that makes up a large portion of the country's population. Having grown up in the slums of the capital, Kampala, he dubbed himself the ghetto president and campaigns on issues such as youth unemployment and human rights.
On January 15, Bobi Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, will compete against Museveni in a presidential election for the second time. But the odds are stacked against him.
Since entering politics, the self-styled revolutionary has faced imprisonment and several criminal charges, which many view as politically motivated.
His plight gained international attention when musicians like Chris Martin of Coldplay and Damon Albarn from Gorillaz signed a petition demanding his release from custody. Although initially held on illegal possession of firearms charges, those cases were later dropped.
Despite the backlash from authorities, who deny political motivations behind their actions, Bobi Wine remains resolute in his aim. As he campaigns against Museveni, who took office during Wine's childhood, he wears a protective vest while engaging crowds that rally for change.
This election, he asserts, is about liberation and urging the people to assert their voices through the ballot box, no matter the associated risks.
