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For the first time since his gruesome treatment at the hands of Ugandan soldiers, popstar-turned-politician Bobi Wine has given details about his 'torture'. He alleges that he was severely assaulted, and had his genitals squeezed until he lost consciousness.
In a lengthy statement on Facebook, outlined everything that happened to him since he was put into detention by the Ugandan soldiers. Bobi Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, gave his version of the story, and it evokes all sorts of emotions. He said he wanted to "set the record straight".
He recounted how his driver Yasin was brutally killed in cold blood, and how the soldiers entered the hotel rooms for the hotel he was in. He said they forcefully entered his hotel room and that's when all horror began. "They beat me, punched me, and kicked me with their boots. No part of my body was spared. They hit my eyes, mouth and nose. They hit my elbows and my knees. Those guys are heartless!" he said.
"They wrapped me in a thick piece of cloth and bundled me into a vehicle. Those guys did to me unspeakable things in that vehicle! They pulled my manhood and squeezed my testicles while punching me with objects I didn’t see. "
"Then they hit my back and continued to hit my genitals with objects. The marks on my back, ankles, elbows, legs and head are still visible. I continued to groan in pain and the last I heard was someone hit me at the back of the head with an object - I think a gun butt or something. That was the last time I knew what was going on."
"By the time I became conscious again, I was somewhere in a small room with a small window. My legs were tied together with my hands with very tight cuffs. I was bleeding from the nose and ears."
He mentioned about how the authorities tried to administer some medication to him so that he would look "presentable" for court appearances and for the media. The charges he faced have been criticized as trumped up charges. He lamented about how he was accused of unlawful possession of firearms, which he claims was untrue, and also about how he was alleged to have stoned President Museveni's convoy. He denied all of this.
He is currently facing a charge of treason. At the moment, he is in the United States where he is receiving much-needed treatment for the severe injuries he suffered.
Bobi Wine's grave predicament for standing up to the regime and galvanizing the youth against the regime has made him an international darling. Many have stood in solidarity with him around the world, and he promised to write another post thanking people for their unwavering support in times of such great distress.
Bobi Wine is a big threat to President Museveni and his regime, and it looks as if the regime wants to break Bobi Wine's spirit. Bobi Wine seems resilient and unshakeable.
Wine is eager for a better Uganda. He tweeted recently, "I have said it before that any party that tells you that it can single handedly liberate Uganda is a jocker (sic). 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."
Header image credit: Al Jazeera
