In a surprising twist of this year’s Oscar nominations, the Best Documentary Feature category includes the Bobi Wine-focused documentary, “Bobi Wine: The People’s President,” produced by National Geographic. The film delves into the political journey of Bobi Wine, a former pop star who challenged the longstanding rule of President Yoweri Museveni in Uganda.
Directed by Ugandan natives Moses Bwayo and Christopher Sharp, the documentary has earned its place among five internationally focused films in the Oscars lineup. This marks the first Oscar nomination for both Bwayo and Sharp, adding to the documentary’s recent success after securing the ‘Audience Choice Award’ at the Cinema Eye Honors 2024 Awards held in January.
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Bobi Wine, reacting to the news, expressed humility, stating, “It is such a humbling moment to see the Ugandan story make it to the Academy Awards – the most prestigious and significant awards in the world. Today the fight for democracy in Uganda and around the world lives on. Thank you for this recognition!”
Released in 2022, the documentary provides a gripping account of Wine’s courageous stand against the regime led by President Museveni, portraying the challenges he faces in confronting the country’s police and military. The film highlights the use of violence and torture in attempts to intimidate and silence Wine and his supporters.
Competing in the Oscars alongside documentaries like “The Eternal Memory,” “Four Daughters,” “To Kill a Tiger,” and “20 Days in Mariupol,” Bobi Wine’s documentary stands as a powerful narrative shedding light on the ongoing struggle for democracy in Uganda. The nomination further underscores the global recognition of stories that resonate with the fight for political freedom and justice.
