Uganda's Opposition Leader Bobi Wine Injured in Alleged Security Force Attack

Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine was shot in the leg by security agents in a suburb of Kampala. Wine, a former pop star and presidential candidate, sustained injuries during a confrontation with police. The incident has prompted widespread condemnation and calls for an investigation by human rights advocates and international observers.

Uganda's main opposition leader, Bobi Wine, was shot in the leg by security agents in Kampala's northern suburb on Tuesday, according to his party's statement.

Bobi Wine, officially known as Robert Kyagulanyi, was the runner-up in the 2021 presidential election, facing long-time President Yoweri Museveni. His party, the National Unity Platform (NUP), reported the shooting as an attempt on his life.

The police stated the injury occurred following an altercation as officers tried to prevent Wine and his team from marching down a road. The police mentioned that Wine stumbled while getting into his vehicle, but Wine and his team insisted he was shot.

A widely shared video showed NUP officials helping an injured Wine at the Najeem Medical Centre. With a bleeding wound on his leg, Wine was visibly in pain. NUP's Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya condemned the attack and the ongoing violence against Museveni's opponents.

Museveni's government has faced accusations of suppressing opposition, charges which he denies. The U.S. State Department expressed concern about the shrinking democratic space in Uganda due to violence against opposition figures like Wine.

Wine has garnered significant support from Uganda's youth, attracted by his transition from pop star to politician and his outspoken criticism of Museveni's long-standing administration.

(With inputs from agencies.)