“Bobi Wine is out of danger,” title the Daily Monitor, relaying the words of the lawyer of the Ugandan opponent. On Tuesday, September 3, the leader of the National Unity Platform (NUP) party was taken to hospital for a leg injury. On social networks, Wine and his party claim that he was targeted by a “pull from the police” after visiting his lawyer George Musisi in Bulindo town on the outskirts of the capital, Kampala.
The latter spoke to the media the following day, specifying that Wine’s injury was due to the explosion of a tear gas grenade fired by the police. While he was reassuring about his state of health, he nevertheless added that an operation would be necessary to remove the fragment from his leg.
“Television footage shows Bobi Wine being taken to hospital with his pants torn and an open wound on his leg following a gunfight on Tuesday night in the locality of Bulindo”, wrote the Daily Monitor in one of the first articles reporting the incident. Images of the opponent slumped to the ground with a bloody shin were widely shared on social networks, starting with those of the person concerned himself.
“According to witnesses, a violent confrontation took place when the police tried to disperse the crowds that had gathered to cheer Bobi Wine as he left the city.”
The police accused Bobi Wine and his supporters of attempting to start a procession without permission, thus justifying the use of tear gas and live ammunition. They also claim that the opponent was injured after “tripped while getting into his vehicle”. Footage of the incident posted on Bobi Wine’s X account shows a device exploding at the candidate’s feet. Another message posted on the same account denounces a “attempted assassination”. An investigation has been opened.
Harassment campaign
Bobi Wine, 42, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, has emerged as the main opponent of President Yoweri Museveni, who has ruled the country with an iron fist since 1986. A former singing star, he came second in the 2021 presidential election with 35% of the vote, but has denounced irregularities. “During the campaign, [il] was arrested and beaten several times, and his house was sealed off by security forces when the results were announced,” note The New York Times.
[…] - Courrier international
