KAMPALA. National Unity Platform (NUP) leader Robert Kyagulanyi, commonly as Bobi Wine has said the 2018 Arua incident in which his driver Yasin Kawuma was killed remains a painful and unresolved chapter, vowing that those responsible will “one day be brought to book.”
Speaking during a media briefing ahead of a full-day campaign visit to Arua, Kyagulanyi said returning to the West Nile city carries deep emotional significance for both him and the People Power movement.
“This is a place where I survived an assassination that claimed the life of my driver and brother Yasin Kawuuma in August 2018. The memories of this horrific tragedy are still fresh on my mind,” he said.
Kyagulanyi assured supporters that seeking justice for Kawuma and accountability for the events of that night remains central to his political mission.
“As we head to Arua today, we want to assure the public that someday we shall bring the perpetrators of such crimes to book. The people of Uganda shall have the last laugh,” he said.
The NUP leader is expected to hold several campaign meetings in Arua as part of his nationwide mobilisation drive.
The incident happened on August 13, 2018, during the final rally of a by-election for the Arua Municipality parliamentary seat.
Both Kyagulanyi, who was campaigning for independent candidate Kassiano Wadri, and President Museveni, who was campaigning for NRM candidate Nusura Tiperu, were in Arua on the same day.
Tensions rose as clashes broke out between supporters of the rival camps.
The situation escalated after allegations that the President’s convoy had been obstructed and pelted with stones.
Later that evening, Yasin Kawuma, Bobi Wine’s driver, was shot dead near Hotel Pacific. Kyagulanyi said security forces shot his driver believing the bullet was meant for him.
Police later claimed Kawuma was hit by a stray bullet during efforts to control the chaos.
More than 30 people, including Bobi Wine, MPs, and journalists, were arrested in a sweeping security operation.
Kyagulanyi was first charged in a military court with unlawful possession of firearms before the charges were dropped and replaced with treason charges in a civilian court.
Many of the arrested, including Bobi Wine, appeared in court with visible injuries.
While the government denied torture allegations, the condition of the detainees drew sharp concern from human-rights groups and sparked nationwide protests demanding their release.
The Arua incident remains one of the most consequential flashpoints in Uganda’s recent political history and continues to shape the confrontation between the ruling establishment and the opposition.
Tomorrow, Thursday Kyagulanyi will campaign in Maracha and Terego .