By Simon Turibamwe
Counsel James Mubiru who is a big man in Bobi Wine’s People Power Movement has spoken out and owned up responsibility for the Saturday fracas in Bulange where he commanded a group of People Power militants who occasioned an attack on Dr. Kizza Besigye. In an interview with state-owned Bukedde newspaper, whose contents he subsequently corroborated upon in a phone call with this news website, Mubiru accepted leading the team and justified his actions. Mubiru, who is a leading ideologue in People Power Movement, is quoted by Bukedde to have said the following: “We acted the way we did in order to discipline Besigye because he has become a problem for the opposition. He doesn’t want to exit just like Museveni.” Mubiru, who is a very close of Bobi Wine’s wife Barbra Itungo and is the designated contender Bobi Wine has fronted against Rubaga North MP Moses Kasibante, was flanked by his right hand man Abel Kabugo as journalists interviewed him. In the vicinity was Seya Nasser Sebagala’s chief body guard Chief Mbowa Moses who is also a notoriously vocal Boda Boda rider in Lusaze near Namungona in Rubaga Division. Whereas in a subsequent interview with Mulengera news Mubiru vehemently denied the contents of the Bukedde interview saying he had been quoted out of context, what the country’s most read newspaper published was actually consistent with a video that top TV stations aired over the weekend. In there is James Mubiru clearly character-assassinating Besigye while justifying why the attack against him was long overdue. One of the remarkable things he said in that video was a call on Besigye to either declare support for Bobi Wine or go back to NRM where he came from.
MAKES U-TURN
But in a phone call with Mulengera news, Mubiru sounded a changed remorseful man and said he was never involved in the Bulange fracas. Saying he was previously a strong FDC/Besigye supporter, Mubiru praised the retired Colonel as a very good leader who actually mentored him. Mubiru’s U-turn comes in after People Power’s Bobi Wine cautioning his supporters never to confront Besigye whom he said is very important in the struggle to liberate this country. It’s also true that since the Saturday video went viral on social media, Mubiru who had already distinguished himself as a formidable contender for the area MP seat has suffered a lot of bashing with many people calling on Bobi to banish him from his camp. Therefore, by sounding reconciliatory towards Besigye, there is a high likelihood that a remorseful Mubiru has reflected on his mistakes and wants to mend fences before it’s too late. For comments, call or text us on 0752510225.
