Uganda's Bobi Wine recovering from police assault - party

In Uganda, Bobi Wine, a prominent opposition leader and former pop star, has suffered an injury during a confrontation with police. His party, the National Unity Platform (NUP), has reported that he is currently recovering in the hospital. The incident occurred when Bobi Wine was allegedly struck in the leg by a tear-gas canister, although there were initial concerns that he had been shot. This unfortunate event took place while he was on his way to meet with his lawyers in Bulindo, a town located about 20 kilometers north of the capital city, Kampala. According to a police statement, officers at the scene claimed that Bobi Wine stumbled while trying to enter his vehicle. A journalist named Solomon Serwanjja, who was present during the incident, captured images of the 42-year-old leader being assisted from a building with a visible injury to his left leg. NUP spokesperson Joel Ssenyonyi later revealed that X-ray examinations indicated that fragments from a tear-gas canister were lodged in Bobi Wine's leg. Medical professionals at Nsambya Hospital in Kampala informed reporters that he would require surgery to remove these fragments. The police explained that Bobi Wine had attended an event in Bulindo and, after that, he and his team attempted to walk through the town. However, the police advised against this action. Despite their warnings, Bobi Wine insisted on proceeding, which led to the closure of the road and police intervention to stop the procession. The police statement mentioned that during the altercation that followed, it is alleged that he sustained injuries. Additionally, the NUP reported that at least four of its members were arrested during this confrontation. Veteran opposition figure Kizza Besigye condemned the incident, calling it a 'horrible outcome' of what he described as 'usual police aggression against political opposition. ' Bobi Wine first entered parliament in 2017 and ran against President Yoweri Museveni in the 2021 election, which was marked by significant state repression. He has gained popularity among the youth in Uganda but has faced numerous arrests and physical assaults. The security forces in Uganda have a long-standing history of targeting political opponents of President Museveni, who has been in power for nearly 40 years.