Uganda: explaining the Bobi Wine controversy
Did the Ugandan Opposition Leader, who once sang "Burn all the batty man", have a change of heart on homosexuals, or is he taking the international community for a ride?
If you are still an X person (I am not), you might have noticed the tweets below sent yesterday by Frank Mugisha and Steven Kabuye, both prominent Ugandan LGBTQ+ rights advocates, about Bobi Wine, the Ugandan opposition leader. Mugisha wrote that Wine’s party is “using [LGBTQ+ people] for international political gain,” while Steven Kabuye wrote, “All they want for us is death.”
Not a raving review of someone whom the West is hailing as the next Mandela and who is portrayed in a biopic documentary nominated for an Oscar, “Bobi Wine: The People’s President".
On the other hand, EU’s David Vidal Sans, who self-describes as a social media expert, tweeted on April 5th: “Honored to meet Uganda's most prominent leader @HEBobiwine. He is not only fighting for human and LGBTI+ rights but also exposing the dictatorial reality of his country in the 2024 Oscar-nominated documentary Bobi Wine: The People's President.”
So, friend or foe, what is the deal with Wine? (that sounded weird; I am not going to write about alcohol abuse in this newsletter if this is what you came for)
The “Bobi Wine starter kit” includes Susan Orlean’s recent dithyrambic piece in the New Yorker titled “From House Arrest to the Oscar Circuits” and the New York Times’ “Bobi Wine: The People’s President’ Review: A Pop Star Turns Politician.” However, no article I reviewed about Bobbi in the myriad that has popped up lately referred to his views on LGBTQ+ rights.
“the Ugandan pop singer Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, who goes by the stage name Bobi Wine, has earned, by way of his courage and resilience, the special consideration this documentary affords him”, NYTimes, July 2023
As Wine garners acclaim on the international stage, it is worth digging into his troubling history with LGBTQ+ rights.
Bobi Wine 101
Bobi Wine, who is only 42 (I only say that because I am 46 and cannot cook or lead a country), is a popular figure in Uganda who has transitioned from a successful music career to politics. He has appeal, particularly among the youth, due to his relatable background and charismatic nature. He and his party, the National Unity Platform (NUP for the cool kids), have been persecuted by Museveni. His party has a realistic chance of challenging Yoweri Museveni's long-standing presidency. However, the possibility of electoral success for Wine or any opposition candidate is slim as electoral manipulation by the Museveni government is rife.
A travel ban
Wine has a history that is difficult to overlook. His past is marred by outright homophobic statements and lyrics, such as those from his 2014 song, where he incited violence against homosexuals with lyrics like "Burn all the batty man." Batty Man is a not very nice way to refer to a gay man. Burning them all is self-explanatory. These lyrics even led to a travel ban by the UK, which was only lifted recently. His response to criticism has often been defiant, citing cultural norms rather than acknowledging the human rights of the LGBTQ+ community, although lately, he has softened. In these comments four months ago, he said:
“Yes, I took responsibility because I actually called for the burning and killing of all homosexuals. During that interview, I communicated that people grow and transform, and as a leader, I transformed from calling for the death and killing of people who differ from me. I stand by my word …[I want to?] be a leader of all people in the population even those that are not like me”
Has he really changed?
Wine's strategic silence on LGBTQ+ issues after entering the political arena does not bode too well. Wine has done little to correct or retract his previous homophobic rhetoric publicly. This silence is conspicuous and troubling, given Uganda's harsh stance on LGBTQ+ rights, where even recent legislation has further criminalized homosexuality with severe penalties and led to global condemnation. He only spoke about AHA to regret that it is what it took for the World Bank to suspend lending (albeit very temporarily).
The elevation of Wine as a symbol of resistance against tyranny in the West, including the Oscar nod, starkly contrasts with his actual record on human rights. It is a reminder of the selective advocacy often prevalent in international politics (and US politics), where young, good-looking, charismatic leadership can sometimes overshadow deep-seated issues like LGBTQ+ rights.
What’s your view, Fabrice?
Well, thanks for asking. I think the West should…listen to what Ugandan LGBTQ+ activists are saying. Convictions matter, and we have already witnessed how LGBTQ+ issues are the canary in the coal mine. It’s unrealistic for Wine or any political leader in Uganda to be a homophile - given societal attitudes in the country - but respect for human rights is not negotiable, and there are incredible human rights violations against homosexuals in that country.
I also see this issue as symptomatic of a more significant problem in which politicians - even our allies - continuously instrumentalize our lives for political or geopolitical gains. That’s not what this is about; we do not want to be anybody’s pawn; we want to live our lives.
The LGBTQ+ community in Uganda has suffered a lot and deserves genuine allies, not opportunistic figures who fluctuate their support based on political expediency. There are many other promising figures in the country, such as Victor Ochen, Founder and Executive Director of the African Youth Initiative Network, whom I recently met in Bellagio and who impressed me and articulated an inclusive vision for the country.
Ultimately, the issue in Uganda is not about LGBTQ+ people; it is about inclusive politics rather than scapegoating politics. It is about securing a generation of leaders who can articulate a vision for Uganda, where all lives are valued, ensuring leaders like Wine stand for the rights of all, not just the majority.
As Wine continues to be lauded in various circles by romantic endorsers of a “Ugandan Che Guevara,” LGBTQ+ people must demand more than charismatic dissent against dictatorship—it must demand real advocacy for all oppressed groups, including the LGBTQ+ community.