Chaos in Uganda as police shoot Bobi Wine

Ugandan politician and activist Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, widely known as Bobi Wine, was shot in the leg by police on Tuesday.

This incident has ignited a firestorm of controversy and political tension in Uganda.

Wine, the president of the National Unity Platform (NUP) and former Member of Parliament for Kyadondo County East, was on his way to visit lawyer Musisi George when the situation unfolded.

According to a statement from Wine’s Facebook page, the police and military, led by an officer identified as Twesigye, encircled Wine’s vehicles. The statement described the security forces as launching an unprovoked attack using live bullets, teargas canisters, and other projectiles, resulting in Wine being injured.

He was swiftly taken to a hospital, where he is currently receiving medical care. The incident was described as yet another assassination attempt by President Yoweri Museveni’s regime. The statement from Wine’s camp read, “Bobi Wine has been shot in the leg by police in Bulindo! He’s been rushed to hospital for urgent medical attention. We’ll keep the country updated on his situation.”

Wine’s team has accused the authorities of deliberately targeting him, while the Ugandan Police Force offered a different account of the events. In a statement released on the same day, police officials stated that Bobi Wine attended a Thanksgiving ceremony at the invitation of Mr. George Musisi in Bulindo.

The police explained that after the ceremony, Wine and his entourage attempted to lead a procession through Bulindo town, despite police advisories against it. The police statement detailed, “When Hon. Kyagulanyi left the venue, he and his team moved out of their cars and embarked on a procession… Despite their guidance, he insisted on proceeding and closing the road, leading to police intervention to prevent the procession.”

The police claim Wine sustained the injury after stumbling while getting into his vehicle, contradicting the assertions from Wine’s team that he was shot. An investigation has been promised to ascertain the exact circumstances of the incident. Wine was initially treated at Najaeem Medical Centre in Bulindo for first aid.

The police promised to investigate the alleged shooting and related incidents leaves many questions unanswered, as the nation waits for clarity on this latest development in Uganda’s turbulent political landscape.