As a musician, Wine styled himself as the “ghetto president” and sang protest songs. Once in Museveni’s cabinet, he remained true to his constituency, releasing music that was banned by the very government he was now a part of.

The 36-year-old embarrassed Museveni in October when he exposed that lawmakers were bribed for their support in scrapping age limits for the presidency. Wine said he received 29 million Ugandan shillings ($8,000) and asked his bank to return it to the sender before exposing the corruption on social media.

In June, he came out strongly against Uganda’s new social media tax and urged young people in the region to speak out against increasing internet crackdowns in the region.

These positions, and now his detention, are creating the ideal anti-Museveni candidate ahead of next year’s elections.

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