This archive report was first published on 5 August 2019.
August 5, 2019, will be remembered as a dark day in the Ugandan music scene following the tragic death of Ziggy Wine, a talented musician and blogger affiliated with Bobi Wine's Firebase Crew.
According to James Mubiru, a close associate of the artiste, Ziggy Wine's passing is a devastating loss for the music community and a painful reminder of the struggles that many Ugandans face.
"It is hard to believe that my brother, my friend and fellow comrade in the struggle has gone to meet with the Lord. We have tried all we can in our capacity to see Ziggy makes it but, unfortunately, in vain," Mubiru said.
As news of Ziggy Wine's death spread, Bobi Wine took to social media to express his condolences, tweeting, "Our friend Ziggy Wine could not make it. He passed on last night-succumbing to injuries sustained after a horrendous encounter with kidnap & torture. Very painful! He joins other countless Ugandans. As we mourn him, we resolve to work even harder to end this. Rest well brother."
Recalling the events leading up to Ziggy Wine's death, sources revealed that he was kidnapped on July 21, 2019, on his way to a studio in Kampala. He was later found unconscious at the gate of Mulago National Referral Hospital with an eye missing and two fingers chopped off. His body bore signs of torture, including burns.
Following his kidnapping, Bobi Wine had taken to social media to raise awareness about Ziggy Wine's plight, tweeting, "My friend, fellow artiste & #PeoplePower comrade Ziggy Wine was kidnapped only to be found three days back tortured beyond recognition, left eye plucked out, two fingers cut off, belongings taken & left for dead. Pray for him, even as we struggle to end this state of affairs."
As detectives from the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) and Kawempe Police Division launch an investigation into Ziggy Wine's death, the music community is left to mourn the loss of a talented young artiste.
