By Mulengera Reporters
With reliable sources close to him revealing he is very bitter because his rehabilitation back into the system was mismanaged, former Amama Mbabazi Go Forward bodyguard Christopher Aine has declared war on the government of President Museveni.
In a video-recorded message he released Saturday afternoon, Aine says Museveni has 15 days within which to address popular grievances or face the wrath of his militant group in case he remains obstinate. Aine, who has been into some oblivion for close to 5 years now, was a big actor in the 2016 campaigns as he flamboyantly headed Mbabazi’s security detail.
Aine became conspicuous on the day JPAM campaigned in Ntungamo Town where Aine commanded the thumping of President Museveni’s supporters who were trying to disrupt his boss JPAM’s procession as the candidate left the rally. The video of wailing Museveni supporters caused many to laugh at the NRM prompting Museveni to call a news conference where he furiously vowed to teach Aine a lesson he would never forget.
It was at that press conference that Museveni made the famous remark of “poking the leopard’s a**s.” He said by beating NRM supporters, even in self-defense, Aine had poked the leopard’s **** and as CiC Museveni bragged he had capabilities to make Aine regret his actions.
In the days that followed the Museveni pronouncement, Aine went missing and leading Kampala political/security analyst Charles Rwomushana subsequently posted images he claimed was the body of Aine. Long after the campaign storm had settled, Aine unexpected resurfaced in a video that went viral of social media. He was speaking as Gen Salim Saleh stood next to him and that created the impression he was finally in things.
He indeed thanked the President’s brother for being large-hearted. He repented his political sins and promised to work with the NRM government to address the grievances of the common people. He seemed to have lots of hope that things would be better and he created the impression that Museveni and Saleh weren’t bad people but those around them. He subsequently gave media interviews to especially NTV.
It later emerged he was staying at a top city hotel where Saleh is a regular. As IGP, Gen Kayihura (who had previously staked Shs20m for whoever produces Aine) showed bitterness and vowed to storm the city hotel and forcefully drag Aine out. To him, Aine was a fugitive criminal who had maimed senior police officers leaving some of them crippled during the JPAM fracas in Jinja.
Kayihura said all these made Aine culpable to stand criminal trial under the Penal Code Act. The country anxiously waited to see Kayihura dare have a confrontation with the President’s brother. In the end, the General from Kisoro ate a humble pie and grumblingly fell silent. Aine too gradually became silent and has since that time been only active on social media and many thought he had been rehabilitated into a diehard Museveni supporter.
His latest video, accompanied with a strongly worded two page missive, shows the man remains bitter and disappointed as ever. Introducing himself as National Coordinator for “Rise for Peace Africa,” a pressure group concerned with governance issues in Uganda, Aine lists several grievances his members have against Museveni’s government.
He says his latest rant is provoked by Museveni’s less than satisfactory State of the Nation address which he says created more questions than answers. In the message, Rwomushana describes as heavy, Aine says Museveni has 15 days to respond in a meaningful way or risk regrettable consequences if he doesn’t. In the video, a tough-talking Aine doesn’t disclose where he is.
He appreciates a few good things Museveni has done including growing tourism, the water and road infrastructure but says these aren’t enough. He says corruption has become endemic and demands real tough action including confiscating property of the corrupt. That efforts like Afande Nakalema’s can’t create any hope anymore in the populace he purports to speak for.
Aine also speaks about Mafiarism and wonders why it’s what everybody powerlessly talks about without the head of state doing anything. He claims many of the wrongdoers are well known and untouchable because they are connected to the President and his brother Gen Salim Saleh. He says Ugandans can’t continue looking on when Mafia group members go on killing and grabbing public land and forests without facing any consequences. He cites the Kwagalana Group some of whose members he says are known mafias. He says members of his pressure group know these people very well and what they own. He says time has come for Ugandans to act since their government has let them down.
Without disclosing what they will do, Aine says his group members are going to commence certain actions (to the detriment of Museveni and his govt) should their grievances remain unaddressed within the next 15 days.
M7 MAN SPEAKS BACK
Presidential Press Secretary Don Wanyama refused commenting much saying he hadn’t seen the Aine video. Saying he wasn’t sure Aine is among those meriting his response, Wanyama contemptuously said it’s not his job to respond to everyone that bashes the President. “But he has been with Gen Saleh why doesn’t he raise his concerns and share that information with him for action to be taken?” Wanyama said.
His colleague Faruk Kirunda, the Presidential Assistant in charge of media management, warned Aine would be crashed with his 15 days’ ultimatum like all the others who tried before him ended.
“If he is genuinely concerned and wants to help his country, why does he give the President 15 days? Is that practical? Uganda is a democratic country and the President to double-check and the due process of the law has to be followed. If he is just using those unreasonable demands as cover up to justify whatever mischief he might be planning, Aine should stand warned he won’t find the Ugandan state wanting,” Kirunda said.
Kirunda advised that if Aine has good evidence on the Mafia group members and the Kwagalana group members using the President’s name or that of Gen Salim Saleh to grab government land and forests, he should prepare his evidence well and share it with the President in confidence. Kirunda told Mulengera News that the President doesn’t work alone. “He has always been let down by the courts which release such people for lack of evidence. If Aine has his good evidence let him step forward and see if action won’t be taken. We had Afande Kirumira who had good information which he shared with the President but as Gen Nalweyiso later said Kirumira made a mistake of going to the media. Aine shouldn’t fall in the same trap. He knows how to access the President and let him use the appropriate channels and pass on that information. Its evidence we have always lacked to decisively punish the corrupt,” said Kirunda. (For comments, email us at mulengera2040@gmail.com).
