Incarcerated black artists who tasted freedom in 2018

Bobi Wine
Ugandan musician and politician Bobi Wine has been very critical of President Yoweri Museveni’s government and he definitely ruffled their feathers this year.

Born Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, the self-acclaimed “Ghetto President,” after getting into politics vowed to stand up against the excesses of the government and ensure the people’s interests are represented.

It was, therefore, no strange thing that he won a by-election in his constituency of Kyadondo East, central Uganda.

And he has been true to his word. He took to the streets of Kampala, the capital city, to protest the social media and mobile money tax the Ugandan government implemented as a way to boost state revenue and to stop fake news.

He was also among the legislators who criticised the bill that increases President Museveni’s term limit by getting rid of the age limit of 75.

In August, the member of parliament was arrested and subjected to torture while in custody on the charges of masterminding an attack on President Yoweri Museveni’s convoy which was pelted with stones. He was charged with unlawfully possessing firearms but was released after appearing before a military court. He was, however, immediately re-arrested by the police to face a civilian court for treason.

After being released on bail, Wine travelled to the United States to seek treatment for the injuries he sustained while in custody.