Ugandan Court Orders Inquest into 2018 Killing of Bobi Wine’s Driver

Kampala, July 7, 2026 - Uganda's High Court has ordered a formal judicial inquest into the 2018 killing of Yasin Kawuma, the driver of opposition leader Bobi Wine, reopening one of the country's most high-profile unresolved political cases nearly eight years after the fatal shooting.

The ruling directs the Chief Magistrate's Court in Arua to conduct a public fact-finding inquiry into the circumstances surrounding Kawuma's death, concluding that a judicial inquest is necessary to establish how the incident occurred and to serve the interests of justice, the victim's family, and the public.

The decision follows a legal application filed by Kawuma's widow, who sought judicial intervention after years without a criminal prosecution or official inquiry into the killing. While the court held that it could not compel the executive to appoint a coroner, it ruled that it had independent authority under the law to order an inquest.

Kawuma was fatally shot on August 13, 2018, during violence that erupted in Arua amid parliamentary by-election campaigns. He was seated inside a vehicle used by Bobi Wine when a bullet pierced the windscreen, killing him instantly. The incident occurred as security forces clashed with opposition supporters following unrest linked to campaign activities.

The killing triggered widespread public outrage and was followed by the arrest of Bobi Wine, several opposition lawmakers, and dozens of supporters, who were later charged with treason before the charges were eventually withdrawn.

The forthcoming inquest will examine the identity of the deceased and determine how, when, and where he died. As a judicial inquest, the proceedings are intended to establish the facts surrounding the death rather than determine criminal responsibility.

No individual has been prosecuted in connection with Kawuma's killing, and the court's order is expected to renew public attention on one of Uganda's most politically sensitive unresolved cases.

Security and Humanitarian Affairs