The driver of musician turned politician Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, has been shot dead.
The deceased, identified as Yasin Kawuma, was killed on Monday evening in Arua town, Uganda. According to Bobi Wine, who is the Kyadondo East MP, his driver was shot by police who were attempting to take him out instead.
Bobi Wine said this in a Tweet as he shared a graphic image of his slain driver in a car.
“Police has shot my driver dead thinking they’ve shot at me. My hotel is now cordoned off by police and SFC.”
According to various Ugandan media outlets, security forces fired live rounds at opposition protesters in Arua, a town in the nation’s northwest not far from the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo.
They were coming from different rallies ahead of a by-election to choose the Arua Municipality MP when clashes between marching groups ensued. The incident escalated into stone throwing and gunfire, with Wine’s driver reportedly hit.
WestNile Police Spokesperson Josephine Angucia said Wine’s driver could have been hit by a stray bullet as police tried to clear the way for President Yoweri Museveni’s convoy.
There are additional reports that President Yoweri Museveni’s vehicle also was damaged in Arua, where he campaigned Monday on behalf of Nusura Tiperu, the National Resistance Movement candidate.
Bobi Wine and a number of opposition leaders were there to rally support for Independent candidate Kassiano Wadri.
“For us to defeat President Museveni, it will take more than one political party, more than one tribe, more than one religion and yes, more than one generation,” Wine said, throwing his weight behind Wadri.
The youthful legislator was an outspoken leader against Museveni during last year’s Presidential age-limit debate in parliament.
