Bobi Wine marks 41st birthday

The National Unity Platform party president Kyagulanyi Ssentamu Robert aka Bobi Wine is today marking his 41st birthday.

Bobi was born in Nkozi hospital, Gomba to Ms. Margaret Nalunkuuma, a local midwife and Mr. J.W. Ssentamu, a Democratic Party stalwart.

He was relocated to the capital, Kampala in the low income suburb of Kamwokya where he lived with his mother.

At a very tender age, Bobi hustled and did so many odd jobs as a minor. He was however focused on his academics and attended Kitante Hill School, Kololo SS and then later Makerere University where he attained a Diploma in Music, Dance and Drama.

Bobi ventured into music in the early 2000’s and made a hitsong titled ‘Akagoma’ that catapulted him to popularity in the country. He went on to elevate his music career and did collaboration hits with Moses Ssali aka Bebe Cool to tusstle it out with their then nemesis Jose Chameleon. Bobi and Bebe formed the Firebase crew that would later on split when the duo fell out over unknown circumstances.

Bobi Wine remained solo and released a series of hit songs that rose him to fame when he won several Pearl of Africa Music Awards. Wine, in 2008 became the first musician in East Africa to import and own an Escalade vehicle. Bobi also owned a mansion, a yatch and a beach before clocking the age 25. He was at some point declared the most wealthy musician in Uganda.

In 2017, Bobi sidelined his music career for active politics and won the Kyadondo East MP by-election polls. He joined the tenth parliament and initiated the People Power movement. In 2018, he survived an assassination attempt that claimed the life of his driver Yasin Kawuuma in Arua during a by-election. Bobi was later jailed and charged with treason. This alone garnered him international community amnesty and government was compelled to release him on bail following a series of protests in Kampala and major towns.

Bobi ran for president in the 2021 general elections which he believes he won at 54.1% and ousted the incumbent Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.

Bobi presently heads the opposition National Unity Platform party which has a legislative representation of 57 lawmakers in the eleventh parliament.

Bobi is married to his childhood lover Ms. Barbie Ithungo Kyagulanyi with whom they have two sons and two daughters.