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Ugandan Opposition Leader Bobi Wine Injured in Police Confrontation
In a troubling development, Bobi Wine, the prominent Ugandan opposition leader and former pop star, has sustained a leg injury during an encounter with law enforcement. According to his personal assistant, Najja Ssenyonjo, there are indications that Bobi Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, may have been shot and is currently undergoing treatment at Nsambya Hospital in Kampala.
The incident reportedly took place as Bobi Wine was en route to meet with his legal team in Bulindo, located approximately 20 kilometers (12 miles) north of the capital.
Authorities stated that initial reports from police claim the opposition leader stumbled while entering his vehicle. A statement from the police announced that an investigation would be initiated to ascertain the facts of the case.
News of the incident was first shared on Bobi Wine’s X account, where he stated: “@HEBobiwine has been shot in the leg by police in Bulindo.”
Video footage shared on social media by journalist Solomon Serwanjja depicts the opposition leader being assisted from a building, visibly injured and bleeding from his left shin.
“We only heard bullet sounds in the scuffle, so it’s up to the doctors to confirm, but as of now, it’s believed to be a bullet,” remarked Ssenyonjo in his comments to the BBC.
The police outlined that Bobi Wine had recently participated in an event in Bulindo and subsequently, he and his group exited their vehicles to lead a procession towards the town. Despite police advising against this move, he allegedly insisted on continuing, prompting law enforcement to intervene in an attempt to manage the situation.
According to the police statement, it was during this altercation that Bobi Wine is said to have incurred his injuries.
Bobi Wine first entered parliament in 2017 and gained significant attention during the 2021 presidential election against long-time leader Yoweri Museveni, an election overshadowed by allegations of state-sponsored violence and repression aimed at opposition figures.
He has garnered substantial support among the youth and has faced multiple arrests and incidents of violence throughout his political career. The actions of security forces against political dissenters in Uganda reflect a pervasive strategy that has been employed against President Museveni’s opponents, who has ruled for nearly four decades.
This incident is the latest in a series of confrontations between security forces and opposition leaders in Uganda, raising concerns about the ongoing political climate in the country.
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