Joshua Baraka reveals he could vie for Uganda’s presidency in the future

Ugandan musician Joshua Baraka has revealed that he is considering a future in politics, hinting at a possible bid for Uganda’s presidency.

Speaking during an interview on Sunday, March 8, 2026, he teased the idea of starting in smaller leadership roles, such as a chairman, but was clear about his ambition to make a meaningful impact.

“I’m going to run for president… I definitely want to get into politics. At some point, I’ll maybe start as chairman or some stuff like that,” he said.

The Wrong Places hitmaker also said he would consider running when the timing and circumstances are right, including evaluating the strength of potential opponents, noting that he would likely enter the race when facing a more manageable challenger.

Uganda vs Kenya: political environments

Baraka clarified that he intends to vie for Uganda, despite his Kenyan roots. He explained that his decision is informed by the differences in the political environments of the two countries.

While he described Uganda as “a beautiful country” where politics, though challenging, is somewhat predictable, he portrayed Kenya’s system as more volatile. “Even an MP here has ridiculous power,” he said, highlighting the risks and unpredictability in Kenyan local politics.

He noted that in Uganda, if something serious happens, like a disappearance, “we all know” who is responsible, whereas in Kenya, “it could be anyone,” he said, pointing to the complexities and dangers of navigating the political landscape there.

Reflecting on Kenya’s democratic process, Baraka acknowledged that citizens have the power to vote and change presidents, but he stressed that this does not eliminate the challenges at the local level.

“You vote for changing presidents, which is amazing, but that doesn’t take away the atrocities that happen in your local governments,” he said, underlining the difficulties of holding local leaders accountable in the country.

Musicians entering politics in Uganda is not unprecedented. Popular artist-turned-politician Bobi Wine recently vied for the presidency in the national elections, though he lost, and has already made a significant impact, showing that artists can successfully transition into public service.

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