Ugandan musician allied to Bobi Wine dies after alleged kidnap, torture

Ugandan musician Ziggy Wine, who was signed to a recording studio associated with singer-turned-politician Bobi Wine, died on Sunday night.

Ziggy Wine, whose real name is Michael Kalinda, reportedly succumbed to injuries sustained after he was allegedly abducted and tortured on July 21, 2019 while on his way to the Firebase Crew studios.

Kyadondo East legislator Bobi Wine, taking to Twitter on Saturday, announced that Ziggy was found “beaten beyond recognition, his left eye plucked out, two of his fingers cut off, all his belongings taken and dumped in Mulago Hospital and left for dead.”

A source told the Daily Monitor that, following the alleged kidnapping, Ziggy spent over a week at Mulago Hospital’s casualty unit without receiving any treatment besides antibiotics.

“He looked to be in a lot of pain. Sometimes he would get off the bed and walk to the toilet. At one time we had to tie him to the bed to restrain his movements,” the source told the publication.

A CT scan later conducted after the intervention of his family members revealed that he was bleeding from the brain.

Bobi Wine has since eulogized the deceased as “a solid member of the Firebase Crew, a hard-working young man and strong supporter of People Power” adding that his “last days on earth were very painful.”