By Watchdog reporter
Robert Kyagulanyi Sentamu commonly known as Bobi Wine was born on 12 February 1982 in Gomba Mpigi District of Uganda.
Together with his siblings, Bobi Wine grew up in the ghettos of Kamwokya, a suburb of Kampala. He started doing music as early as 1996 and his break through song was Kagoma. This single went on to top music charts for more than six months.
With the success of Kagoma, the singer started to believe in his music up to date. Minus Kagoma, Bobi Wine has got more than forty hit songs. These include Taata wa Baana, Maama Mbire, Wendi, Wesotinge, Adam Ne Kawa, Abulungi Balumya, Mazzi Mawanzu, Ghetto, Mr. Money and Carolina Kigwa Leero, Aidah, Specioza among others.
Amongst his admirers and supporters, Bobi Wine is known as Ghetto Gladiator also President of the Uganja republic (Fire Base Crew). He is a source of inspiration to several Ghetto people in Uganda.
Some years back, the ‘kiwani’ singer tried his luck in professional boxing and he was a professional boxing license by The Uganda Professional Boxing Commission though we are not sure how he ended his career.
Bobi Wine’s lyrics often advocate for ghetto-residents in Uganda. He has supported several practical projects to improve conditions for the poor.
In November 2013, he held what local media reported to be Uganda’s first large-scale free entry album launch concert, at the Lugogo Cricket Oval, a very large venue, where donations were collected by the Red Cross for victims of landslides in Bududa in Eastern Uganda.
In 2014, Wine was appointed a Save the Children Ambassador for their EVERY ONE Campaign, and joined a team of 14 Ugandan artists who recorded a special song and video about maternal and child health.
Apparently, Bobi Wine is one of the richest musicians in Uganda though his net worth is not clearly started.
In the just concluded presidential elections in 2016, the singer openly came out to express his support for Forum for Democratic Change presidential Candidate Dr. Kizza Besigye.
He alleged that he denounced the money which was given to him by NRM to join President Yoweri Museveni’s singing team during campaaigns which included his rival Bebe Cool, Jose Chameleone among others.
Currently, Bobi Wine is vying for Kyadondo East parliamentary seat after court kicked FDC’s Apollo Kantinti out of Parliament.
Many people have expressed their support towards the self proclaimed ghetto gladiator and with the look of things he is likely to win in the forthcoming elections.
The singer is married to his long-time partner Barbie Itungo, whom he met at Makerere University. Together they have four children.
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