Singer cum legislator Bobi Wine is proving a political juggernaut judging by the mammoth crowds that embrace him wherever he goes.
Yesterday, he put Mbarara at a standstill, as he arrived in the western town, ahead of a concert that he staged at Agip Motel later in the evening.
In late June, he swept the Kyadondo East Parliamentary by-elections with a landslide victory.
After swearing in as an MP, Bobi Wine said he would not quit his job as a musician, and true to his word, he is staging a series of countrywide “victory” concerts and drawing mammoth crowds, not only at the concert venues, but is welcomed by multitudes of people wherever he goes.
Bobi Wine is looked as a presidential contender, especially among the large youthful audience, many of whom were born in President Yoweri Museveni’s regime who are disillusioned with the current leadership because of unemployment and some who want change for the sake of change.
Just like at his rallies, he has drawn massive crowds in northern, eastern and western Uganda, proving that his powerbase of youthful voters who are the majority in the country is not only in his Kyadondo East Constituency.
Advantages over Besigye
Bobi Wine has several advantagers over opposition figurehead Rtd. Col. Kiiza Besigye. First is that Besigye has contested for the top office in the land four times. He could have been rigged out as he claims, but the masses that keep voting him are growing disillusioned and they have been waiting for a new opposition leader to emerge – enter Bobi Wine.
Unlike Besigye who is fronted by his Forum For Democratic Change party, Bobi Wine is independent and preaches the message of uplifting Uganda. It is clear that wherever he goes, he carries the Uganda flag along with him, indicating that he represents the country, not any political grouping.
Bobi Wine also has the chance to traverse the country unhindered – at least for now. With the “alibi” of performing at different concerts, the singer turned politician has a reason to visit every part of the country and preach his political message.
2021 might be too early but judging by the masses receiving him, Bobi Wine might take the plunge into deeper political waters. He is not one afraid of taking a big step. The man who went around calling himself the ghetto president with his socially conscious music could actually become the country’s president in future.