Kirk Franklin Safe After Ugandan Riot
Gospel artist Kirk Franklin and his band encountered rioting crowds in Kampala, the capital of Uganda, last Wednesday, Sept. 9. The riot reportedly arose from rumors that a political figure had been arrested, according to Ugandan Web site The New Vision.
Coming from a lunch event at the home of the country’s vice president, Gilbert Bukenya, Franklin could see the “energy” in the crowd and heard that some people were being shot, according to his YouTube report. He and his entourage sought refuge at a local police station.
Franklin was riding in a car, but others with him were on a bus, which was pelted with stones. After entering the bus to check on his team, a police officer began shooting rioters from the bus.
On the YouTube video, the singer said: “I was so scared … but I’m coming back to Africa. This won’t be my last time … God’s grace.”
The concert on Franklin’s schedule was held the next day at Nakivubo Stadium in the Ugandan capital. Franklin went to Kenya next and is now in Japan.