UGANDAN opposition leader Bobi Wine, a vocal critic of President Yoweri Museveni, is set to undergo surgery following an injury to his leg during an altercation in Bulindo, 20 kilometres north of Kampala. His lawyer, George Musisi, confirmed that doctors plan to remove suspected fragments from a tear gas canister that struck Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi.
The incident occurred on Tuesday when Wine was attending a meeting with supporters in Bulindo. Initial reports from his National Unity Platform (NUP) party claimed that the 42-year-old leader had been shot. However, on Wednesday, Musisi clarified that Wine had been injured by a tear gas canister that exploded near him, causing significant damage to his leg.
‘Wine is out of danger, but surgery is required to remove the fragments from his leg,’ Musisi told AFP.
In chaotic scenes immediately following the incident, Wine was rushed to Nsambya Hospital, where images and videos shared on social media showed him in visible pain. According to the NUP party spokesperson, Joel Ssenyonyi, the canister’s explosion bruised the bone in his left leg, though it did not break. ‘Fragments from the canister entered his leg, and the injury requires surgical intervention,’ he said.
Musisi accused the police of firing tear gas indiscriminately at Wine and his supporters during the small gathering. He condemned the act and reported that four party supporters were arrested during the chaos. Ugandan police, however, disputed the opposition’s claims, stating that Wine injured himself after stumbling while getting into his vehicle. They have announced an investigation into the incident.
Wine and his National Unity Platform have been persistent in challenging Museveni, who has held power for nearly four decades. In the 2021 presidential election, Wine ran against Museveni, though the incumbent secured a sixth term in office. This latest incident adds to the long-standing tensions between Wine’s opposition movement and the Ugandan government.
As Wine awaits surgery, questions remain over the nature of the incident, with both sides offering conflicting accounts. Meanwhile, the opposition continues to condemn the police’s actions, fuelling ongoing concerns over political suppression in Uganda.
