Among those he inspired was Ugandan native Moses Bwayo, who co-directed the documentary with Christopher Sharp.
And I believe a lot of people my age were thinking the same.
He supercharged rallies with performances of his songs containing pointed political lyrics.
Ugandan opposition politician Bobi Wine.Lookman Kampala/National Geographic
Its exciting, its humbling.
The enormous task ahead, it almost appears insurmountable.
In the midst of his run for president, authorities seized Wine and held him at a military barracks.
Bobi Wine with supporters in Katakwi district in Eastern Uganda, November 14, 2020.Lookman Kampala/National Geographic
He emerged after a couple of weeks, badly beaten, alleging his captors had tortured him.
They did horrible things to me, Wine tells Deadline.
They used pliers to pull my ears.
They put pepper spray in my eyes.
They squeezed my testicles, they kicked me…
I had to spend the whole week urinating blood and pus.
They hurled insults at me.
It was a temporary measure, and they were later reunited as a family.
But of course, theyve been forced to grow much faster than their age.
Weve been forced to tell them the truth.
They know that even when I fall in trouble, it is for moral reasons.
He told Deadline about the key moment that transformed him into an overtly political performer.
I was around 25, he recalls.
For me, that was so humiliating, Wine continues.
And I decided that I would use my music to speak about the injustices.
In fact, during the presidential campaign, Musevenis people tried to smear Wine as appealing to LGBTQ people.
Its used as a diversion from the corruption, from the mismanagement, from the dictatorship.
That immense financial support is propping up the Museveni regime, Wine and Bwayo insist.
The guns that shoot our people are American guns.
We are fighting against the tyrant in Uganda.
The director almost lost his life in the making of the film.
I was shot in the face at close range.
I was locked up in jail.
I was arrested a couple of times, he notes.
I hope this film can show the world how fragile democracy is.
Democracy is very, very fragile, Bwayo says.
Every individual can do something about this.
We can all act for the greater good.
Despite the threats to his life, he says he has no intention of abandoning his homeland.
I cant leave Uganda, man.
Uganda is home, he says.
I have my whole life around Uganda.
Thats where my children are, thats where my brother, my family are.
Thats where my soul is.
By being here, it gives hope that I decided to stay so that we fight together.
After all, we are so many.
