PAUD Condemns Shooting of Bobi Wine, Uganda Opposition Leader

The Pan-African Unity Conference (PAUD) and the Institute for the Black World 21st Century (IBW21) condemn the shooting and wounding of Uganda’s voice of the youth, Robert Kyagulani, a.k.a. Bobi Wine, by security forces on Sept. 3, 2024.

“It is with profound shock and sadness that we learned that Bobbi Wine, a leading Opposition figure and a champion of democracy in Uganda was shot. Media reports say he was shot in the leg by police forces loyal to Ugandan dictator General Yoweri Museveni. We are keeping Bobbi and his family in our thoughts and prayers and wishing him a speedy recovery,” said Dr. Ron Daniels, President of IBW21 and convener of the PAUD.

“Bobbi Wine continues to demonstrate courage and resilience as he fights relentlessly for the human rights and freedoms of the Ugandan people. He is an inspiration to people of African-descent across the globe who oppose tyranny and autocracy,” said Dr. Mohammed Nurhussein, Chairman, United African Congress (UAC), a New York City-based organization that fights for the rights of African immigrants in the U.S. and an affiliate of the PAUD.

Full details are yet to emerge. Police and the military trail Bobi Wine’s movements in Uganda and often illegally impede his path. According to media reports and images and video posted on social by officials of his party, National Unity Platform (NUP), Bobi Wine was shot on his left leg by security officers. He was then quickly huddled into a vehicle by associates who quickly rushed him to hospital. Video images showed that he seemed to be in pain while aided by two party officials into a vehicle.

Many believe Bobi Wine was wrongly deprived of victory in Uganda’s 2021 Presidential election by regime rigging, also the subject of the 2023 Oscar-nominated documentary “Bobi Wine: The People’s President.”

Bobi Wine is 42; Museveni who has ruled Uganda for 38 years turns 80 this month.

“We call on the Museveni regime to bring the individuals involved in this reckless attack against a beacon of hope and democracy in Uganda to be held accountable. Given the regime’s record of gross human rights abuses we won’t hold our breath. But the U.S. has leverage since it provides the Museveni regime with nearly $1 billion in annual financial support. Washington must use this leverage to help uphold the rule of law,” said Milton Allimadi, PAUD’s Crisis in Africa Task Force coordinator.

Bobi Wine was the recipient of the Rainbow/PUSH Founder’s Award by the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson at the Rainbow Push Coalition headquarters in Chicago, IL., on August 10, 2024. The award was presented by Rev. Janette Wilson, National Director, on behalf of Rev. Jackson who was ailing.

Prior to receiving the award, Bobi Wine and NUP Deputy President Lina Zedriga, participated in a mini-town hall session hosted by Dr. Daniels.

Bobi Wine delivered a memorable speech calling for African unity at the Black World Conference V, organized by IBW21 on April 21, 2023 in Baltimore, MD.

***

IBW21 is a leading Pan-African think tank and activist organization at the forefront of the Reparations for Enslavement movement. PAUD hosts a quarterly meeting of several Pan-African organizations to strategize and act on socio-economic challenges faced by the Global African community.

Featured image: Bobi Wine speaking at IBW21 SOBWC-V, April 21, 2023 in Baltimore, MD