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Uganda Opposition Figure Bobi Wine Releases COVID-19 Awareness Song

Halima Athumani

   KAMPALA, UGANDA - In Uganda, authorities have confirmed five new cases
   of COVID-19, among them an eight-month-old baby and two Chinese
   nationals who left their quarantine. Ugandan officials are trying to
   raise awareness of the coronavirus, including one well-known opposition
   lawmaker who, not surprisingly, issued his warning in song.

   Legislator and musician Robert Kyagulanyi, better known as Bobi Wine,
   is attempting to spread awareness of the deadly coronavirus.

   His musical message: everyone is a potential victim, everyone is a
   potential solution, and do not underestimate the danger.

   Like a majority of Ugandans and others around the world, Wine is
   staying indoors with his family and he tells VOA, it's not easy.

   "Well, like everybody else, am struggling, laughs," said Kyagulanyi.
   "Because it's not very easy to have kids home when you're not earning
   especially in our Uganda where it is mainly from hand to mouth. But we
   try to manage under the circumstances."

   In the last two weeks, President Yoweri Museveni has addressed the
   nation four times through the national broadcaster, urging people to
   stay indoors, keep social distance and wash their hands to keep the
   virus at bay.

   Wine tells VOA, this is the time especially for musicians like him to
   use their talents for humanity.

   "We must use all the tools that we have to communicate," said
   Kyagulanyi. "Music is a very powerful means of communication and it's
   not only communication but it also deals with matters of stress with
   different people out there who are confined, who are self-quarantined."

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