Mystery of Bobi Wine's health condition deepens
Police and army men arrest Ugandan opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine in Arua. Mr Wine is being treated in the US for what he says are injuries inflicted by Ugandan security personnel following his arrest in August. PHOTO | FILE | DAILY MONITOR
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Ms Itungo, who visited her man on Saturday, said Mr Wine and a military doctor told her all was not well.
“The only problem is that we could not get clear documented information from the doctors to confirm. However, he also told me that one of his kidneys is injured,” she said.
“It is hard to verify the extent of the damage on my husband’s life because of the damages seem to be internal.”
Mystery on the health condition of musician-turned politician Robert Kyagulanyi, alias Bobi Wine, who was brutalised during arrest and tortured in military barracks, has deepened.
On one hand, his wife Barbara Itungo says he is gravely ill with internal injuries after one of his kidney was damaged.
KIDNEY
On the other, President Museveni, quoting military medical sources, dismisses the reports, terming them “fake news”.
Ms Itungo, who visited her man on Saturday, said Mr Wine and a military doctor told her all was not well.
“The only problem is that we could not get clear documented information from the doctors to confirm. However, he also told me that one of his kidneys is injured,” she said.
“It is hard to verify the extent of the damage on my husband’s life because of the damages seem to be internal.”
On Saturday, Mr Wine's lawyers, Lukwago and Company Advocates, also released a statement indicating that the doctors confirmed his kidney had been damaged.
“One of Hon Kyagulanyi’s kidneys was damaged, he suffered internal bleeding, he is experiencing excruciating pain in the hip and head yet no scan or X-ray examination had been conducted,” the lawyers stated.
“No clear indication that the military barracks is equipped with necessary facilities to handle his deteriorating health.”
MUSEVENI
Kampala Mayor Erias Lukwago, one of the lawyers on Mr Wine’s legal team, said the information they were given by the military lacked specifics and evidence.
“A military officer at the rank of captain just gave us vague information with no paperwork to back it up. We are proceeding on Article 23 of the Constitution to make sure Mr Kyagulanyi accesses his personal doctors,” Mr Lukwago said.
The said article provides for a suspect’s right to bail.
On his part, President Museveni said Mr Wine is okay based on reports he had received from military doctors.
“I decided to check with army doctors because, being a disciplined army, UPDF doctors always take precautions in such situations,” he said on Sunday in a statement.
“Bobi Wine had already been seen by doctors in Arua, Gulu and Kampala. He has no head or chest injuries or bone fractures, they informed me.”
And according to Brigadier Richard Karemire, the army spokesman, Mr Wine’s condition is not so bad.
MILITARY
“Bobi Wine is in good condition. We trust our doctors and they are handling him. You remember when the doctors carried an industrial action? These are the very doctors who worked and why doubt them right now? We should dismiss any speculations and work with facts,” he said.
Asked whether the presidential guard soldiers who arrested Mr Wine would be punished for brutalising a suspect in custody, Brig Karemire declined to give a definite answer.
He instead countered with a question whether it is also under the law to carry out a procession and throw stones at the president.
“Why should they [soldiers] be arrested? Is it in the law to pelt stones to the fountain honour and do processions? You should know why Bobi Wine was arrested,” Brig Karemire said.
Singer Juliana Kanyomozi said they would work together to forge a way of freeing their colleague now turned politician.
“We want to work together because we know our voices can be heard. We came to support the family and held a meeting to fight together as musicians,” Ms Kanyomoozi said.
