The US claims that such actions cause the democratic space in the country to continue to “shrink”
September 4 (EUROPA PRESS) –
Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine was injured on Tuesday by alleged gunfire from the country’s police during a scuffle in the Bulindo neighbourhood, located in the Kira municipality, where he had gone to visit one of his lawyers.
“Our President Bobi Wine has been shot in the leg by the Police in Bulindo! He has been rushed to hospital for urgent medical attention. We will keep the country informed of his situation,” read a statement posted on his social media account X.
The incident took place after Wine’s visit to his lawyer Musisi George, at which point police and military “surrounded” his vehicles and began to open “live fire” and fire tear gas.
“During the incident, our President Bobi Wine, who was clearly the target, was shot in the leg. He is currently being treated by a team of doctors. The regime of (President Yoweri) Museveni has once again made an attempt on the life of our President,” the letter continued.
The same account later posted a video of the incident in which a soldier can be heard saying “shoot him,” and seconds later the opposition figure, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, is shown on the ground.
However, police have reported that officers on the scene maintain that the injury occurred after stumbling while trying to get into his vehicle, and have already announced the opening of an investigation.
“When Honourable Kyagulanyi left the scene, he and his team got out of their cars and embarked on a procession to Bulindo town, however, the police advised him against it. Despite their advice, he insisted on going ahead and closing the road, prompting the police to intervene to prevent the procession,” police spokesperson Rusoke Kituuma was quoted as saying by the Daily Express.
US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller has expressed concern about the violence against opponents in Uganda, where democratic space continues to shrink.
“We are concerned that violence against opposition voices means that democratic space continues to shrink in Uganda. Respecting freedom of peaceful assembly and allowing political parties to operate freely are fundamental values of democratic societies. There is no place for harassment of opposition voices,” he said during a press conference.
Finally, he denounced that this type of human rights abuses damage the country’s “prospects for progress” and its “association” with the international community.
Such incidents between Wine and the police are common and often result in violence, although this is the first time he has been injured. The politician is one of the best-known faces of the opposition to the Ugandan president, who has been in power since 1986, and faced him in the elections held in January 2021.
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