Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly identified as Bobi Wine, has officially joined the race to replace President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
Bobi Wine, serving as the current Member of Parliament for Kyadondo East announced this decision during an event at his Magero home in Kampala. The musician turned politician has consistently displayed indications of providing an opposition figure in a country led by a military strongman.
“On behalf of the people of Uganda, I am challenging you (Museveni) to a free and fair election in 2021,” announced Bobi Wine.
He was wearing a red tie and his signature red beret, which he has called a “symbol of resistance”, a look copied by dozens of his supporters at the event, which came more than a week after saying in an interview that he planned to contest the election.
Bobi Wine first came to prominence in 2017 when, as an independent candidate, he won an election to represent a constituency near Kampala.
He has since successfully campaigned for other opposition candidates, raising his profile as a national leader and attracting calls urging him to run for president.
But Bobi Wine faces multiple challenges, including limited opportunities to hold rallies or stage concerts ahead of elections.
He was most recently arrested in April for allegedly staging an illegal protest last year – charges fellow opposition MPs decried as ridiculous – but was released from jail after a few days.
Speaking to Al Jazeera, Bobi Wine insisted that “We came to the conclusion that we as a generation must challenge President Museveni,” 
