Uganda pop singer, Bobi Wine has declared his intention to run for the presidency in the country.
MP Bobi Wine has officially announced that he will run for president in the 2021 election. The 37-year-old Ugandan pop star has vowed to challenge President Yoweri Museveni, who has been in power for 33 years.
The singer calls himself the “ghetto president”, and is a fierce critic of Mr. Museveni. He was charged with treason last year over the alleged stoning of the presidential convoy.
He denied the charges and was freed on bail.
“On behalf of the people of Uganda I am challenging you [Mr Museveni] to a free and fair election in 2021,” Bobi Wine said at an event in the capital, Kampala, to announce his candidacy.
“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,” he later told AFP news agency.
The musician, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, has been an MP for two years. He portrays himself as a champion of the poor and sings about social justice and democracy. Uganda’s parliament approved changes to the constitution last year to scrap the age limit of 75 for presidential candidates.
The move opened the way for the ruling party to nominate Mr. Museveni, 74, to run for a sixth term. His supporters say he needs to remain in office to guarantee stability and to promote economic development.
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