Ugandan opposition figure Bobi Wine, with real name Robert Kyagulanyi, is set to have surgery, as confirmed by his lawyer on Wednesday. This comes after he sustained a leg injury during a chaotic event, initially reported as a shooting by his party.
According to his National Unity Platform (NUP) party, President Yoweri Museveni’s critic was in Bulindo, approximately 20 kilometres north of Kampala, when the incident occurred.
However, Bobi Wine’s lawyer, George Musisi, informed AFP on Wednesday that Wine is “out of danger” but will still require surgery to extract suspected fragments from a tear gas canister that struck him, as per the doctors’ assessment.
“It appears police targeted to harm him,” Musisi added.
After the events on Tuesday, there was a lot of confusion. Videos and pictures on social media showed the Bobi Wine being quickly taken to Nsambya Hospital. The 42-year-old was seen grimacing in pain.
Musisi explained that the incident took place when the police indiscriminately fired tear gas at a small group of supporters in Bulindo town, where Wine was holding a meeting.
“A teargas canister was aimed at him and it exploded injuring him on the leg,” he said.
Musisi criticised the event, stating that the police had detained four party supporters during the altercation.
Ugandan authorities announced on Tuesday that they would commence an inquiry into “the alleged shooting and any related incidents.”
The announcement, published on X, indicated that officers present at the scene contested the opposition’s account of the events, asserting that Wine had tripped and injured himself while entering his vehicle.
A spokesperson for the NUP party described the situation late on Tuesday, denouncing the actions of the police.
“Shortly after he got out of the car, these people on a very short range situation aimed at him with a projectile that hit his left leg,” Joel Ssenyonyi told reporters.
“He’s got a wound, the bone was bruised but thankfully it did not break,” he said, explaining that the canister exploded and “fragments” entered his leg.
“Doctors are saying it’s going to require further surgery to get those fragments out.”
The National Unity Platform (NUP), led by Wine, has consistently opposed Museveni, who has been in power in Uganda for nearly 40 years.
In 2021, he contested against Museveni, but the long-serving leader was re-elected for a sixth term.
The election was criticised by the opposition as fraudulent, following a campaign marked by intimidation, the arrest of opposition members, and instances of violence.
Wine has been detained on multiple occasions, and gatherings organised by his party have been forcefully dispersed.