Wounded Ugandan opposition leader Wine to undergo surgery: lawyer

Musisi said the incident occurred when police "indiscriminately" fired tear gas at a small group of supporters in Bulindo town, where Wine had been for a meeting.

"A teargas canister was aimed at him and it exploded injuring him on the leg," he said.

Musisi condemned the incident and said police had arrested four party supporters during the fracas.

Ugandan police said on Tuesday they would open an investigation into "the alleged shooting and any related incidents."

The statement, posted on X, said officers at the scene disputed the opposition's version of events, saying Wine had stumbled and injured himself while getting into his vehicle.

NUP party spokesperson described the situation late Tuesday, condemning the actions of police.

"Shortly after he got out of the car, these people on a very short range situation aimed at him with a projectile that hit his left leg," Joel Ssenyonyi told reporters.

"He's got a wound, the bone was bruised but thankfully it did not break," he said, explaining that the canister exploded and "fragments" entered his leg.

"Doctors are saying it's going to require further surgery to get those fragments out."

Wine and his NUP have been a thorn in the side of Museveni, who has ruled Uganda for nearly 40 years.

He challenged Museveni in 2021, but the septuagenarian leader was re-elected for a sixth term.

The opposition denounced the vote as a masquerade, following a campaign marked by intimidation, opposition arrests and violence.

Wine has been detained several times and rallies by his party have been violently dispersed.