Bobi Wine: The ‘Ghetto President’ gets nominated at the Oscars
“I am not a criminal. I am a presidential candidate…” That’s Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu – popularly known as Bobi Wine.
Those are the words that were uttered by the aspiring Presidential candidate, Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine when he was inside a police van.
The Ugandan pop superstar is popularly known by two familiar names, the ‘Ghetto President and Bobi Wine.’ However, the most popular one is ‘Ghetto President’, because of his advocacy for the rights of the youths in Uganda.
On the 23rd of January, the Oscar presenters announced the documentary that was shot five years ago that highlights the journey of Bobi Wine in his aspiration to become Uganda’s youngest leader, challenging the long-reigning General President Yoweri Museveni as nominated under the category of Best Documentary Feature Films.
The documentary well known as ‘Bobi Wine The People’s President‘ was documented by Ugandan Filmmakers Moses Bwayo, Christopher Sharp, and John Battsek. It became the only African film projected nominated at this year’s 96th Oscars.
Wine is a former Member of the Parliament of Uganda and the main opposition leader of the National Unity Platform (NUP) party.
President Museveni who has reached more than 30 years in power changed the constitution of Uganda by removing Presidential term limits. Some of the critics of President Museveni believe that it is a way to cling to power.
The one-hour fifty-four-minute documentary is similar to Thandiwe Newton’s documentary on Nelson Chamisa titled ‘The President filmed by Camilla Nielsson’ and it was shortlisted for the Oscars in 2021. Meanwhile, Bobi Wine has been characterized by the likes of Julius Malema the leader of EFF in South Africa, Nelson Chamisa the leader of the CCC party in Zimbabwe, and Senegal’s opposition leader Ousmane Sonko.
