Barbie Kyagulanyi

Barbie Kyagulanyi
BornBarbara Itungo
(1984-09-07) 7 September 1984 (age 39)
Ntungamo, Uganda
OccupationAuthor
EducationHelen's Primary School
Bweranyangi Girls' Senior Secondary School
Alma materMakerere University
Years activec. 2012–present
Notable awards
  1. Vocational Service Award by the Bugolobi Rotaract Club In 2018
  2. Excellence in Leadership award by The AidChild Leadership institute/Uganda in 2020
  3. The teen's most favorite social media star by Teenz Awards in 2020
  4. Awarded for supporting teen mothers by The Remnant Generation
Spouse
​
​
(m. 2011)​
ChildrenSolomon Kampala, Shalom Namagembe, Mbogo Shadrack, Nakayi Suubi

Barbara Kyagulanyi (born September 7, 1984) is a Ugandan philanthropist and author. She is the wife to notable Ugandan singer and politician Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, alias Bobi Wine.[1][2] She is the author of "Golden Memories of a Village Belle" published in 2012.[3][4] She also co-owns and manages One love beach, a resort and recreational facility which was founded by her husband- Bobi Wine.

In 2013, she founded Caring Hearts Uganda, an NGO which focuses on adolescent girls, HIV/AIDS education and menstrual hygiene.[5][6] The NGO has donated infrastructure and resources to schools for marginalized and internally displaced children.[7]

In 2018, Barbie campaigned for her husband Bobi Wine to become a member of parliament and later for presidency in 2020 with her manifesto about women's rights.[8] She fought for the release of Bobi Wine when he was jailed at the Nalufenya detention facility during his presidential campaign in 2020. Both were put under house arrest without a trial by Ugandan security forces in 2021 due to fears Bobi's public presence could incite riots. Eleven days later the house arrest was ruled illegal.[9][10]

Their campaign for presidency was depicted in the documentary Bobi Wine: The People's President which was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 2024.[11]

  1. ^ "Barbie Itungo Kyagulanyi: Biography, Early Life, Education and Family of Bobi Wine's wife". Flash News. 31 May 2020. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  2. ^ "Prepare Barbie to step into Bobi's shoes". Monitor. 2020-12-03. Retrieved 2022-03-12.
  3. ^ Nila, Yasmin. "Barbie Kyagulanyi Reveals writing New Book". Chimpreports. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  4. ^ Tacca, Alan. "Chat time? Barbara Itungo Kyagulanyi and Janet Museveni". Daily Monitor. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  5. ^ Sebwami, Javira. "Barbie Kyagulanyi calls for intense debate on sexual harassment at global conference in Canada". PML Daily. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  6. ^ Muhwezi, Maurice. "'Close your legs, open your books!' Barbie cautions young girls". PML Daily. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  7. ^ "Barbie Kyagulanyi skilling young girls | Uncut". Youtube. Next Media Uganda - Uncut. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  8. ^ Kirabo, Jonah. "Barbie Kyagulanyi: Government does not care about women". The Nile Post. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  9. ^ "Barbie narrates house arrest ordeal". NTV Uganda. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  10. ^ "Ugandan security forces withdraw from Bobi Wine's house". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  11. ^ Sundby, Alex. "See the full list of Oscar nominations for 2024 Academy Awards". CBS News. Retrieved 12 February 2024.