1 year, 7 songs and counting: Bobi Wine’s political songs that have gone silent

Singer cum legislator, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu at the beginning of the year expressed his presidential ambitions in an exclusive interview with the foreign press, throwing himself on the front line against a man who means business during elections- Museveni.

While many pity Bobi Wine as a novice albeit with enough popularity to summon an upset against an undefeated Museveni, the singer has gone ahead to reiterate his ambitions in words, actions and for what he is most known for- Music.

Will Bobi Wine use music as a tool to open up the ballot box in his favor? Will he sing his way to Plot 1? Well, Nile Post looks at the songs that Bobi Wine has sung.

Kyarenga (June 26, 2018)

This does not necessarily fall in the year bracket but it stands for being the anchor, the song that gave birth to the idea that music would really travel far touching people from every corner.

Kyarenga was released months before Bobi was arrested over the Arua fracas. Yet indeed it was just like any other song and it struggled to get the acknowledgment and airplay.

It was not until the Bobi’s arrest and alleged torture, that the song became an anthem for every one of Bobi Wine’s sympathizer. It crossed the border into Tanzania and Kenya. And just like that, Kyarenga that started as a love song sneaked into the political category, it would soon become one of those songs the regime couldn’t stand. All the same it was replaced by a number of political songs after that time.

Engule (December 31, 2018)

This was the first actual song in relation to Bobi Wine’s ambitions, it was released on the eve of the new year and every social media commentator claimed it would be the song of the year.

Soon, a group of select fans got on YouTube to compare its fast-rising views to any song they thought of, and it was shared like a wildfire.

Its video was the talk of the town for some time as Pastor Bugembe regretted being part of it while Pastor Martin Ssempa opened war against it for being a copy and paste of a church hymn.

Well, the song developed short legs, and within two months, it was lost and gone. Only has resurrected a few times during people power events time and again.

Afande (April 25, 2019)

With engule running low on fuel and speed, Bobi Wine was back in the studios, using some free time he had after police confined him to his house to release another song- Afande.

In the song, he called upon the police officers who ensure he does not hold his Easter concert, to join him and fight for their own deliverance. He sang in many languages; many be he could get a bigger appeal this time since the Engule song had been in Luganda strictly.

The song took to Facebook, and YouTube again, with so much social media promotion. Well, it was just what it was- another song. It soon went mute and those he sang it for did not listen, according to their actions against him later on.

Fiscal Policy (March 14, 2019, to date)

This is one of the songs that never went past a video clip in which Mityana Municipality MP Francis Zaake was trying to be the artist by murmuring the lyrics inaudibly. Well, it came about after a very embarrassing interview display by Bobi Wine on NTV. Following criticism for being clueless about fiscal policy and economic issues, the singer decided to sing a song about the matter. His fans and supporters shared a clip of the song on social media and started vigorous promotions, alas, the song did not go to the next verse. If it did, then the interview remains more memorable.

Osobola (September 28, 2019)

This was released quickly, maybe with the intention to have it launched on independence day celebrations. Very rosy lyrical message and a video neither here nor there. Bobi Wine would soon have the song placed on a launch program for October 9 at a concert he named Osobola Ku Independence Day.

The concert was barred from happening and the song went with the opportunity.

Kasukali (November 4, 2019)

From October 9 to November 4 is about a month, hence Bobi took just a month to release another song. He himself could have murdered Osobola song.

Kasukali is a promising song and its beats even warmer, the question is, will the song disappear like the others, or it will stay to give the government another headache? It is too early to tell.

Freedom (timeless)

The song that has been more persistent and constant is Freedom, however, many times it gets lost in the many songs until Bobi Wine himself sings it on different occasions where he is invited to speak. A good song with lyrical assault, but not yet there for some reason.

Zukuka Uganda (timeless)

Another of Bobi Wine’s fine songs, with wonderful lyrics, and that is it.

The bigger question, however, is: 8 songs out but where is their impact, what happens to them after a few months? Is Bobi Wine suffering from failure to hold concerts? Maybe yes.