Bobi Wine, Uganda’s main opposition leader and a significant challenger to President Yoweri Museveni, was shot in the leg during a confrontation with police on September 3, 2024.
This happened in the Bulindo suburb of Kampala. This incident has sparked outrage and condemnation from his party, the National Unity Platform (NUP), which claimed that security operatives attempted to take his life.
The altercation began when Bobi Wine and supporters marched despite police warnings against the procession.
The police stated that their officers tried to block the march, leading to a chaotic confrontation.
The police claim that Bobi Wine stumbled while entering his vehicle, resulting in his injury. However, his team maintains that security forces shot him.
Footage shared on social media shows supporters helping Bobi Wine hobble out of Najeem Medical Centre. He visibly grimaces in pain with a bleeding wound on his left leg.
NUP Secretary-General David Lewis Rubongoya condemned the incident, calling it a “cowardly action” and a blatant attempt on Wine’s life.
He urged all people of conscience to denounce the ongoing violence against political dissenters in Uganda.
The incident has drawn international attention, with a spokesperson for the U.S. State Department expressing concern over the violence directed at opposition voices.
Furthermore, he says that it signifies a shrinking democratic space in Uganda.
Human rights activists, have long accused Museveni’s government of suppressing dissent, a claim that the president consistently denies.
Bobi Wine, a former pop star turned politician, gained significant popularity among Uganda’s youth, largely due to his rags-to-riches story and his outspoken criticism of Museveni’s long-standing regime.
Bobi Wine, a pop star turned politician, finished second in the 2021 Ugandan presidential election marred by allegations of fraud against long-ruling Museveni.
NUP vows to update public on Bobi Wine’s condition, investigation; demands transparency regarding incident that left opposition leader injured.
The political climate in Uganda remains tense, with recent events highlighting the ongoing struggles of opposition figures in the country.