Remembering Yasin Kawuuma: The Driver Killed During Arua By-Election Chaos

Kamwokya, Uganda – On this day, People Power supporters gathered at the head offices in Kamwokya to commemorate the anniversary of the tragic death of Yasin Kawuuma, a driver to former Kyadondo East MP Bobi Wine. Yasin Kawuuma was fatally shot by the elite Special Forces Command in 2018, an incident that shook the nation and ignited widespread protests.

The annual commemoration serves as a solemn occasion for People Power supporters to remember and pray for the soul of Yasin Kawuuma. The event draws attention to the unresolved case and the lack of accountability for his murder.

At the time of the incident, Bobi Wine, a popular musician turned politician, was campaigning for Kasiano Wadri Ezati, the People Power candidate vying for the vacant seat in the Arua municipality. The seat had become available following the assassination of its previous occupant, Ibrahim Abiriga. Bobi Wine had gained significant political momentum, defeating the ruling party in several byelections across the country.

The security forces, justifying their actions, claimed they were restraining People Power supporters from attacking the presidential convoy. They presented an armored vehicle supposedly damaged by rowdy People Power supporters as evidence. This incident led to a raid on the Pacific Hotel in Arua city, where several People Power members from Kampala had gathered.

The aftermath of the incident witnessed a wave of arrests, torture, and the arraignment of numerous political leaders, particularly Members of Parliament. Shockingly frail, they were paraded before the court to allegedly justify the brutal treatment they had endured. Bobi Wine himself appeared in court with crutches, while Zaake Francis of Mityana municipality, visibly injured, was unable to see due to the severity of his injuries inflicted by his captors. The police claimed that Zaake had managed to escape from custody, despite his incapacitated state.

In a disturbing turn of events, at least 33 individuals were charged separately in Arua and Gulu district high courts with possession of military stores (rifles). Notably, Bobi Wine’s vehicles were seized and remain impounded at the Arua central police station to this day. Astonishingly, no security officer has ever been arrested or charged in connection with the murder of Yasin Kawuuma.

The anniversary commemoration serves as a stark reminder of the unresolved questions surrounding Yasin Kawuuma’s death and the broader concerns over human rights abuses and lack of accountability in Uganda’s political landscape. The supporters of People Power continue to seek justice for Yasin Kawuuma and demand transparency in the investigation of his murder.