Wakiso, Uganda | By Michael Wandati | Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine, also known as Robert Kyagulanyi, was reportedly shot in the leg during an incident in Bulindo on September 3, 2024.
His political party, the National Unity Platform (NUP), has described the event as an assassination attempt, raising serious concerns about the safety of political figures in Uganda.
According to the police statement, Bobi Wine was invited by Mr. George Musisi, a lawyer, to a Thanksgiving ceremony in Bulindo, Kiira Municipality, Wakiso District. The event reportedly concluded peacefully, but tensions arose when Bobi Wine and his team attempted to proceed on foot to Bulindo town, despite police advice against closing the road and continuing the procession.
The police intervention aimed to prevent the procession from blocking traffic. During the subsequent altercation, the police claim that Bobi Wine sustained his injuries after stumbling while getting into his vehicle. However, Bobi Wine and his team assert that he was shot in the leg.
Kampala Dispatch reporter, who was present at the scene, has shared footage on social media showing the 42-year-old opposition leader being assisted from a building with a bleeding wound on his left shin.
The police statement confirms that Bobi Wine was initially taken to Najaeem Medical Centre in Bulindo for first aid. An investigation is being conducted to clarify the circumstances surrounding the incident and to determine the accuracy of the conflicting accounts.
The incident has heightened tensions between the opposition and the government, with NUP supporters demanding accountability and justice. Bobi Wine’s condition remains a concern for his supporters and the international community.
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The police have pledged to investigate the alleged shooting and any related incidents thoroughly.
As the investigation unfolds, there are increasing calls for transparency and an independent review of the events that led to the injury of one of Uganda’s prominent opposition leaders.
Bobi Wine was elected to Parliament for the first time in 2017. He later ran against President Yoweri Museveni in the 2021 presidential election, an election that faced significant state repression. Known for his strong support among the youth, Bobi Wine has faced multiple arrests and instances of violence.
Uganda’s security forces have a well-documented history of targeting political rivals of President Museveni, who has held power for nearly four decades.
