#UgandaDecides2021: Ugandans are going to the polls on Thursday 14th January to vote for a new parliament and president. Incumbent Yoweri Museveni is facing 10 challengers- including musician turned politician Robert Kyagulanyi AKA Bobi Wine.

President Museveni has been in power for 35 years & is seeking to extend his term to 40 years. That makes him one of Africa’s longest serving rulers- after Paul Biya of Cameroon (38yrs) and Teodoro Obiang Nguema of Equatorial Guinea (41yrs).

Museveni has been in power longer than most Ugandans have been alive. The median age of Uganda is 15. More than 70% of the population is below 30. So most Ugandans were either born under Museveni or were just babies when he came to power.

For the first time, he is facing an unconventional defacto leading challenger. Bobi Wine is a proud son of the ghettos of Kampala. He is 38- the same generation/demographic as most Ugandans.

Bobi Wine appeals to the struggling youth who feel the establishment has not taken their plight seriously. So his supporters feel it’s time for people from the Ghetto.

They think he (Bobi Wine) might just be the messiah who will deliver them to the promised land of opportunities that has so far eluded them.