Bobi Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, rose to prominence as a pop star before entering politics. He finished as the runner-up in the 2021 presidential election, challenging Museveni’s nearly four-decade-long rule.
The NUP made the announcement on social media, stating, “Security operatives have made an attempt on his life. He was shot in the leg and seriously injured.”
Ugandan police, however, provided a different account. They stated that Wine was injured during an altercation when officers attempted to block him and his team from marching down a road. According to a police statement, an investigation is underway to establish the facts. “Police officers on site claim he stumbled while getting into his vehicle, causing the injury, whereas Hon. Kyagulanyi and his team assert that he was shot,” the statement read.
A video circulating on social media shows NUP officials assisting Wine as he hobbled out of the Najeem Medical Centre in the Bulindo neighborhood. The footage shows Wine with a bleeding wound on his left leg and appearing to be in significant pain.
David Lewis Rubongoya, the Secretary General of the NUP, condemned the incident, describing it as a “cowardly action” and “another attempt on his life.” He further criticized the ongoing violence against those opposing the Museveni regime and called for widespread condemnation.
The Museveni government has faced repeated accusations from opponents and human rights activists of suppressing opposition voices, a charge the government denies.
Bobi Wine has garnered significant support among Uganda’s youth, who are drawn to his rags-to-riches story and his bold criticism of Museveni’s administration. Uganda, a nation of 46 million people, has seen Wine become a symbol of resistance against the long-standing government.