By C.J. Hirschfield

(November 2, 2023)

At a recent San Francisco gathering Bobi Wine (Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu) said he would like you to know that the United States gives $1 billion a year to support Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni’s 30+ year ruthless and dictatorial rule.

Ugandan opposition leader, former member of parliament, activist, and national megastar musician Wine would very much like for you to “stop paying for our oppression.”

His message is brilliantly conveyed in an award-winning new documentary, Bobi Wine-the People’s President, now streaming on Hulu and Disney+.

You’d best be prepared for this extremely close-up look a brutal regime, whose president changes the constitution and rigs elections to allow him to continue in office, and kills and imprisons anyone who stands in his way. And Bobi Wine, his wife, and even his children are most definitely in his way.

Wine was born in a Kampala ghetto, and rose to musical stardom before entering politics. It’s safe to say that this film would not have nearly the weight—or the heart—that it does without Wine’s dynamic Afrobeat soundtrack featuring words of hope and inspiration amid the images of chaos and pain. Truly, we can feel the power of his words and music to denounce the dictatorial regime, and to offer the vision of freedom to the people who are being violently repressed by the country’s police and military.

The film is hard to watch at times. Co-director/cameraman Moses Bwayo spent five harrowing years following Wine through his 2021 presidential campaign, and during the production was arrested, imprisoned, and shot in the face at close range while filming. With mounting threats to him and his family for making the film that Museveni does not want the world to see, Moses fled Uganda to the United States. In a recent panel session that included Wine and his philanthropist wife Barbie, Bwayo also described how government forces broke his equipment, and forced him to smuggle footage “for Caucasians to take out of the country.”

But there are also scenes of incredible intimacy and love, particularly in moments when Wine and his wife are explaining to their children—who appear way wise before their time—exactly why they are taking such enormous risks in the quest for real freedom for their people.

Threatened, beaten, tortured, imprisoned, and in fear for his family, Wine is not giving up.

When asked about his plans going forward, Wine replied “First, to stay alive.” And next, to communicate to the world that supports such a repressive regime, that “our lives depend on you guys.”

Co-directed by Christopher Sharp, Bobi Wine-The People’s President could land the top prize in the Academy Awards documentary feature race, as did Navalny, another excellent film about a fearless opposition leader taking on a brutal authoritarian government, on the risk of death.

To a theater of gathered filmmakers and critics Wine said, “Please amplify our message.” The film’s wide distribution will hopefully do just that.

Bobi Wine-the People’s President, now streaming on Hulu and Disney+.

Rated PG-13 for strong violent content, bloody images and thematic elements

1 hour 54 minutes.    In English

Official Film Website

Bobi Wine was put under “house arrest” on October 5 on his return to South
Africa.

Bobi Wine Facebook is the best place to follow nearly daily reports of rallies, arrests, and other news.

Bobi Wine You Tube Music Channel

Bobi Wine musical performance at the Alliance for Democracies

 

Interview with Barbie Kyagulanyi  and co-director Christopher Sharp

 

Conversation between co-directors Moses Bwayo and Christopher Sharp on Cinema Without Borders

C.J. Hirschfield recently retired after 17 years as Executive Director of Children’s Fairyland, where she was charged with the overall operation of the nation’s first storybook theme park. Prior to that, she served as an executive in the cable television industry where she produced two series, ran San Francisco’s public access channel and advocated on behalf of the industry. A former writer for Film Month, she also penned a weekly column for the Piedmont Post for 13 years and now writes features and reviews for EatDrinkFilms. C.J. holds a degree in Film and Broadcasting from Stanford University.

Hirschfield currently serves on the programming team for the Appreciating Diversity Film series showing free documentaries in Oakland and Piedmont, as well as on the advisory board of Youth Beat, a youth media training program that provides low-income Oakland students with the tools and opportunities they need to thrive in today’s workforce.

C.J. says, “A good documentary takes us places we never could never have imagined, and changes the way we see the world.”