By Mukembo Wilfred
National Unity Platform (NUP) President Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, has been discharged from Nsambya Hospital where he was admitted following an altercation with police in Bulindo, Wakiso District. Kyagulanyi was reportedly injured after being struck by a tear gas canister, though police claim he simply stumbled while entering his vehicle.
Joel Ssenyonyi, NUP spokesperson, confirmed that Kyagulanyi underwent surgery to remove fragments from the canister that had caused significant injury to his leg. Despite the initial recommendation for a longer hospital stay, Kyagulanyi opted to be discharged and continue his recovery at home due to security concerns.
The decision to discharge Kyagulanyi was influenced by a late-night incident where security operatives attempted to access his hospital room, raising alarms among Kyagulanyi and his team. This intrusion, coupled with blocked roads and restricted access to Nsambya Hospital, heightened the security concerns surrounding the NUP leader.
Kyagulanyi was escorted out of the hospital by a group of supporters, including Leader of the Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi, his wife Barbie Itungo, and other notable figures. He left in an ambulance and was transported under tight security to his residence in Magere.
Ssenyonyi criticized the government for what he described as a pattern of deliberate attacks against Kyagulanyi, referencing previous violent incidents including the shooting of Kyagulanyi’s bodyguard, Yasin Kawuma, in Arua, and an assault on journalist Ashraf Kasirye during the elections.
Political leaders, including Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, his deputy Doreen Nyanjura, and former Member of Parliament Latif Ssebagala, visited Kyagulanyi before his discharge to show solidarity and condemnation of the security forces’ actions. Former Buganda Kingdom Premier Joseph Mulwanyamuli Ssemwogerere also paid a visit.
As Kyagulanyi recovers at home, the situation continues to draw attention from both political allies and critics, who are calling for a thorough investigation into the circumstances of his injury and the broader implications for political safety in Uganda.
