When laughter blends with conviction and passion fuels purpose, you meet Frank Yiga Kakeeto, 68, fondly known as Taata Bobi. He nicknamed himself the “struggle father” of Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, the president of the Opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) party, and has since become a social activist, entertainer, and devoted supporter of the opposition leader. With a strong presence both on TikTok and in his community, Yiga has carved out a unique space where humour meets activism.
Regardless of age, Yiga proves that life’s backdrop is never defined by years but by passion and purpose. From his social media platforms to on-the-ground community service, he continues to influence and inspire change through action and example. Yiga was born in Kajjansi on Entebbe Road, and he has been the chairperson of Butega Cell, Nsagu Ward, Kajjansi Town Council, Wakiso District since 2014 to date. He his leadership has championed social service delivery and community growth.
Genesis of the ‘Taata Bobi’ name
Being a devoted Opposition supporter, Yiga says when Bobi Wine’s father died in 2015 and Bobi Wine’s decision to join politics as a Member of Parliament of Kyadondo East in 2017, inspired him to become the political father of Bobi Wine to bridge that gap. “When Kyagulanyi’s father passed away, I felt like fathering him in politics [he refers to it as ‘the struggle’] so that he does not feel lonely. I approached him with my idea and he accepted; that was the beginning of my popularity,” he explains. Taata Bobi adds that besides being Bobi Wine’s political father, he is also a great fan of his music, from the time he produced Akagoma, which motivates him to be hardworking and love his country.
Yiga’s TikTok adventure
In his 60s, Taata Bobi joined social media in 2017. He says he was stirred to embrace the new digital era of social media, particularly TikTok, which forced him to create his TikTok account. By close of this week, he had about 216,900 followers and 1,600,000 likes on the account named ‘Taata Bobi.’ “I saw the new generation of social media, and I decided to jump into it. I have gained a lot on social media, like friends ranging from women, men, and children all over the world. I have a large audience in Uganda, Canada, Dubai [United Arab Emirates], and Turkey. Wherever I go, people recognise me,” he stresses.
Despite gaining fame on social media, Yiga says he has also attracted praises from his audience, who sometimes gift him with several goodies, including money.
