Kampala 30 Jun (ANA) - Ugandan musician and Afrobeats star Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, best known as Bobi Wine, has won a by-election in Kyadondo East in central Uganda. Wine, who ran as an independent candidate, beat four challengers by garnering 25,659 votes of 33,310 cast, reports Ugandan newspaper New Vision. The newspaper adds that he said after being declared winner that he wants to focus on uniting people:

The first thing I want to do is to reconcile the leaders of Kyadondo East... I want politics to bring us together... just like music does." The seat was declared vacant last year after a court ruled that the election had violated electoral rules, reported New Vision. Wine began his music career in early 2000s.

Following the 2016 election he released a song titled Situka, which means rise up in Luganda.

Part of the lyrics include a challenge to Ugandans to play an active role in fighting corruption and injustice in their country: When the going gets tough, the tough must get going, especially when our leaders have become misleaders and mentors have become tormentors. When freedom of expression is met with suppression and oppression.(ANA)

FA/ANA/30 June 2017-------