Standing for Freedom through Music: Reflecting on Bobi Wine's Message from Copenhagen Democracy Summit

Last week, the Alliance of Democracies Foundation hosted the 6th annual Copenhagen Democracy Summit, bringing together a distinguished lineup of speakers including Czech President Petr Pavel , Estonia's Prime Minister Kaja Kallas , NATO SecGen Jens Stoltenberg, Ukraine's President Zelenskyy, Taiwan's President Ing-wen Tsai , Former UK Prime Minister Liz Truss , and a multitude of inspiring democracy activists and freedom fighters. First day centered around Ukraine's victory, the defense of Taiwan, countering autocratic economic coercion, and the resolute support for democracy defenders worldwide. Amidst the wealth of extraordinary moments, I would like to highlight two sessions that left an indelible impression—one from each day, starting with day one.?On day one, the session on "Standing for Freedom through Music" with Bobi Wine truly stood out for me, resonating on multiple levels.?

First, as a fellow Ugandan, deeply involved in democracy activism through music, I found profound inspiration in this session. Bobi Wine's journey to becoming a symbol of change in Uganda, chronicled in the documentary film "Bobi Wine the People's President," impacted me, as I shared my reflections in this article.

Second, the setting in which the closing session took place. Bobi Wine's presentation took place amidst an atmosphere of heightened uncertainty triggered by an unexpected fire alarm. We were swiftly evacuated from the Royal Playhouse auditorium while security and fire checks were conducted. Our Executive Director, Jonas Parello-Plesner , utilizing a megaphone, informed all that refreshments would be served on the deck while we awaited further instructions. It was over an hour later when we finally received clearance to return to the stage. Despite this disruptive interruption, Bobi Wine's unwavering energy to share his own story and that of Uganda remained resolute.

Upon being invited on stage by the session moderator, Jeanne Meserve , Bobi Wine delivered a succinct yet impactful message to introduce himself. He humbly reminded the audience that he is the individual, alongside his comrades, who is tirelessly dedicating every ounce of his willpower to bring an end to Museveni's 37-year-long dictatorship. The third layer was his message for freedom and democracy in Uganda, which if not highlighted, tends to get lost in music. This will be the focus of the remaining paragraphs.?

"A fight against dictatorship is not limited to any one country—it is a global battle" - Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the National Leader of Belarus

Bobi Wine ran for presidency in the 2021 Uganda presidential election, - in which Museveni was declared the winner by his self-appointed electoral commission. This election has been widely denounced by scholars and political commentators as the most violent and fraudulent in Uganda's history. The process was marred by state-sponsored killings, the arbitrary arrests of campaigners and civil society groups, and intimidation tactics employed by the security forces, among a multitude of other atrocities. The election took place under a shroud of darkness as the Ugandan authorities deliberately shut down the internet across the country. Dishearteningly, the international community has chosen to remain silent, allowing business to proceed as usual. Bobi echoed Tsikhanouskaya's statements from earlier that day by imploring international governments to openly denounce and condemn Museveni's dictatorship.

Bobi Wine appealed to the international community to direct their attention towards the dire situation in Uganda. He expressed that the people of Uganda often feel trapped in darkness and suffering. Bobi Wine urged viewers to take action by engaging their elected leaders and requesting their governments to cease funding of the dictatorship in Uganda. Notably, the European Union (EU) stands as one of the largest contributors to Uganda's funding, with recent announcements of substantial support totaling 63.7 billion UGX for civil society. The political opposition in Uganda opposes such funding due to well-documented evidence that these funds often benefit individuals manufactured by Museveni's regime. When the opposition exposes these corrupt practices, condemnation from the funders is disappointingly minimal. To those seeking further information, there are notable cases worth exploring including the recent "iron sheet saga" and a summary of seven significant corruption scandals that have taken place under Museveni's regime, exemplifying only a fraction of the many cases.

Bobi Wine also seized the opportunity of the Copenhagen Democracy Summit to advocate for the release of all political prisoners in Uganda, starting with Nubian Li, his longstanding music partner, who joined him on stage. Nubian Li, along with other close friends and supporters of Bobi Wine, endured nearly seven months of imprisonment on fabricated charges by the ruling regime. In a private conversation with Nubian Li, he recounted the harrowing experiences they endured while incarcerated at Kitalya prison. Amidst his musical performances, Bobi Wine also shared the distressing story of Olivia Lutaaya, a young mother of two. In 2021, she was violently taken from her home in Namuwongo, subjected to brutal beatings and torture, and to this day, remains imprisoned for her support of the opposition. Her story represents just one of the many similar cases of injustice and suffering.

In conclusion, Bobi Wine's impactful message at the Copenhagen Democracy Summit can be summarized in three key points. First, he called upon the international community to pay closer attention to the dire situation in Uganda. Secondly, he emphasized the need for the EU and the developed world to halt their funding of Museveni's dictatorship, highlighting the detrimental impact it has on the fight for freedom and democracy. Lastly, Bobi Wine fervently advocated for the release of all political prisoners in Uganda, shedding light on the unjust imprisonment of individuals like Olivia Lutaaya and the harrowing experiences they endure.

Furthermore, Bobi Wine issued a warning to the audience, emphasizing that the music they were about to enjoy is criminalized in Uganda. Despite a court ruling that deemed the ban on Bobi Wine's concerts illegal, the government of Uganda has persistently halted his music business since his last attempted show in April 2019. As Anders Fogh Rasmussen , the Founder and Chairman of Alliance of Democracies Foundation, aptly stated, "We want peace, but we are prepared to fight for freedom and democracy." In this context, Bobi Wine's unwavering determination and his reassurance that "everything's going to be fine" resonate strongly, encapsulating the resilience and hope for a brighter future.