The Ugandan pop star turned into the opposite 'ready to face' Museveni

Ugandan pop star Bobi Wine said on Thursday that he was ready to face veteran president Yoweri Museveni in the 2021 elections, despite a series of arrests perceived as an attempt to silence him.

As a member of the opposition, the singer is a figurehead for young people who grew up knowing that only one president – Museveni, 74 years old – is desperate for change.

"If my team decides I'm the right person to challenge President Museveni, I'm ready to face him," said Wine, 37, of his real name Robert Kyagulanyi, at Agence France- Press.

Wine was arrested in late April for organizing an illegal protest in 2018 – charges deemed ridiculous by opposition MPs – was released after a few days of imprisonment.

He is also facing treason charges after he and 30 other opposition politicians were arrested last August for apparently stoning Museveni's convoy after a rally for the campaign.

He accused the security forces of having tortured and beaten during his detention – which the authorities denied.

With his anti-government songs that help him make himself known, he is considered a real challenger by the veteran president, who plans to run for a sixth term in 2021 after he came to power in 1986.

"After 33 years, Museveni's dictatorship is very weakened because every dictatorship has an expiry date," Wine said, adding that Uganda's "majority" was with him.

"We are on the right side of history," he added.

Wine is touring several European capitals to give concerts and spread its message, although it has not been scheduled to perform in Paris.

He stressed that peaceful power transfers were possible in Africa, even from long-time leaders, citing transitions in The Gambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

"We are convinced that we can put an end to the Museveni dictatorship by using civilized voting and means," he said.

Wine also said that he was in contact with Museveni's longtime rival, Kizza Besigye, about coordinating their efforts against the president.

"We are in constant contact with Dr. Besigye and we believe that when we meet, we will be able to put an end to President Museveni's regime," he said.