Uganda politician Bobi Wine recovering in hospital after police confrontation in Wakiso

Uganda's opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) leader Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, is recovering at Nsambya Hospital after a violent encounter with security officers in Wakiso District on Tuesday.

According to party lawyer George Musisi, Bobi Wine sustained injuries to his left lower leg when a teargas canister was fired at him. Musisi confirmed on Wednesday that the opposition leader was out of danger as he was receiving treatment in hospital.

“He is stable and out of danger,” Musisi said.

Overnight, NUP spokesperson Joel Ssenyonyi said X-ray reports indicated fragments from the teargas canister were lodged in Bobi Wine's leg.

According to medical experts at the health facility in Kampala, an operation to remove the fragments has been scheduled for September 4.

Musisi noted that NUP lawyers and officials will on Wednesday head to Kira police in an attempt to free at least four detainees and three motorbikes seized during the altercation as Bobi Wine returned from a private function at the lawyer's invitation.

Veteran opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye condemned the incident, criticising the police for what he described as "unwarranted aggression against the political opposition."

“The injuries Kyagulanyi suffered are from the tear ball grenades (usually blue coloured) that police liberally employ as part of the persecution, not policing!” Besigye wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

He also condemned the Uganda Police Force (UPF) for its “continued rampant abuse of Human Rights.”

Former Leader of Opposition in Parliament (LoP), Mathias Mpuuga, also demanded that the police explain the “brutal and high-handed attack.”

Another opposition figure, Ingrid Turinawe said, “Whether it is a bullet or canister or knife or stone or nail. Whatever it is, Bobi Wine or any other Ugandan has the right and freedom to move. Tormenting peaceful unarmed civilians must stop!”

On Wednesday, Musisi told NTV Uganda that the incident is not isolated and accused the police of acting as the “armed wing of the ruling party against dissidents.”

He urged Ugandans to demand that the police respect the law. "It is not an isolated incident. Ugandans should also demand that police respect the law," he said.

At the crime scene on Tuesday, police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke announced that an investigation would be conducted to clarify the facts, noting that while officers at the scene claimed Bobi Wine stumbled while getting into his vehicle, his team asserts that he was shot.

This is not the first violent incident involving Bobi Wine. In 2018, his driver, Yasin Kawuma, was shot dead during a security operation in Northern Uganda.

At the time, Bobi Wine and his supporters were accused of stoning President Yoweri Museveni's convoy, allegations they have consistently denied.