Frail and sickly Bobi Wine: What did Uganda military do?

Questions abound as to what could have happened to Bobi Wine when he was in military detention after he appeared in court frail and sickly.

Speculations of his ill-health became rife after his wife Barbie posted a message on Facebook saying Bobi Wine asked her to keep the children away to prevent them from seeing him in that condition.

NTV Uganda later published her message on their website with the headline Bobi wonders how he is still alive – Barbie Kyagulanyi

My Husband is Hurting Everywhere, We Nearly Lost Him,Bobi Wine’s Wife Speaks
She said that he looked frail and could not remember some of the events that led to his arrest. Wine could not stand on his own and has a swollen face.
Bobi Wine#MissTourismKisiiCounty pic.twitter.com/injnos4Ivg

— Wish Fm (@Wishfmradio) August 18, 2018

Bobi Wine’s lawyers reiterated her sentiments saying “he has been left unable to stand after being beaten while in detention”, a statement which irked State officials.

“That’s rubbish,” Government spokesman Ofwono Opondo said. “If (Amsterdam) is indeed Bobi Wine’s lawyer, let him go to the detention facility and apply to see him and establish for himself whether his ribs are crushed.

We all need to hold the UPDF accountable for @HEBobiwine and Mityana legislator Francis Zaake's health condition. Who tortured them? Can the disciplined UPDF arrest and name those who inflicted pain on the MPs to face justice? Lest we forget. #FreeBobiWine

— Solomon Serwanjja (@SolomonSerwanjj) August 23, 2018

https://twitter.com/Ugaman01/status/1032552174813937664

The military would later leak a video of their own showing Bobi Wine in coveralls seated inside an unidentified room “laughing” to counter the claims of ill-health.

However, on Thursday, Bobi Wine emerged from the steps of the military court in crutches, proving that the claims of beating and torture could have been true.

His lawyers had to help him walk down and when he was rearrested and taken to the civil court, his frail and sickly body was indisputable.

A section of Kenyans and Ugandans took to social media asking: “What did they do to him?”

The look of a man who is going to continue the struggle for #Uganda and overcome any and all challenges thrown at him. @HEBobiwine pic.twitter.com/4XJpk2VBwd

— Gaetano Kagwa (@gaetanokagwa) August 23, 2018

Gosh…what did they do to him
🤬😢 #FreeBobiWine https://t.co/upedHiOEPG

— Ory Okolloh-Mwangi (@kenyanpundit) August 23, 2018

The court in Gulu has gone on recess. Then the chmn of the general court martial will come & rule on the prosecutors submission to withdraw the military charges. Bobi Wine was in court, appeared weak & in pain.

— Catherine Wambua- Soi (@C_SOI) August 23, 2018

I broke down seeing @HEBobiwine so frail and can't even support himself. I just ask myself; why is @KagutaMuseveni so evil to permit such inhuman treatment just because Hon Robert differs ideologically with him?

— Olé~Jáchigá (@TheBluntKenyan) August 21, 2018

https://twitter.com/hiio5/status/1030015297821048832

@HEBobiwine looks so frail!! He should be in hospital! @UPDFspokespersn you people are inhumane!!

— Sarah K. Kasande (@skasande2) August 23, 2018

The Defense team also pleaded with the Magistrate to allow him to seek medical attention, a request that was granted although Bobi Wine will be remanded until August 30.

He will be allowed to see his private doctor at a medical facility of his choice but under tight security.

Bobi Wine was arrested on August 13 for allegedly stoning President Yoweri Museveni’s convoy, for which he has been charged with treason alongside 33 others.

His arrest sparked protests in Uganda and also in Nairobi, Kenya.