Bobi Wine, a prominent Ugandan opposition leader and former pop star known formally as Robert Kyagulanyi, was reportedly shot in the leg amid escalating tensions with the government. As the leader of the National Unity Platform (NUP), Wine has become a significant figure in Ugandan politics, known for his vocal criticism of President Yoweri Museveni’s long-standing administration.
The NUP claims that security forces deliberately targeted Wine in what they describe as a serious attempt on his life. According to the party, the shooting happened during a confrontation with security operatives.
The police, however, offer a different account, suggesting their officers were trying to block Wine and his team from advancing down a road, which led to the altercation and Wine’s injuries. They are investigating the incident and have suggested that Wine might have injured himself while entering his vehicle, although Wine and his team insist he was shot.
A widely circulated video shows Wine being assisted from Najeem Medical Centre in Bulindo with a visible wound on his left shin and clear signs of pain.
NUP Secretary-General David Lewis Rubongoya condemned the attack as a “cowardly act” and called for widespread condemnation of the violence against those opposing the current regime.
The Ugandan government faces ongoing criticism from opponents and human rights groups for allegedly suppressing dissent, though these claims are denied by the administration.
Wine, who gained significant support among Uganda’s youth through his rise from a challenging background as a pop star and his bold critique of the government, remains a central figure in the fight against the current regime.