M7 Survives assailants who attempted an attack on him

Thousands of people including army generals were on Saturday left in total shock when two men beat President Museveni’s security and charged towards him as he prepared to make a speech at Mbarara High School.

The incident which caused chaos for over 20 minutes occurred during the century celebrations that took place at the school premises where President Museveni, an Old Boy, was presiding as the chief guest.

The celebrations were attended by throngs of dignitaries who included UPDF generals, ministers and Members of Parliament.

It was exactly 1:20pm when the President had just taken his seat. As the he was relaxing in his seat, two energetic men emerged from the gathering and headed towards him.

One came from behind and another one in front. The assailants were however blocked by inner security ring of the President.

The one who emerged from behind was nabbed just a few steps from Museveni’s chief bodyguard, Col. Wilson Bwambale Mbadi’s back while the other was arrested when 10 metres from the President. He was identified as Mugarura Bagirio of Rubare Village in Ntungamo district.

One who was nabbed behind Col. Mbadi was whisked by SFG commandos and was taken to unknown place while Mugarura was whisked away by police.

Mugarura first appeared subdued but later wriggled out of their hands and got closer to the President.

He was again blocked by two armed soldiers who grabbed him and handed him over to police officers. The assailant wrestled with SFG commandoes for over 20 minutes but was finally defeated.

The drama left very many people shocked. “You mean that the President’s life is in danger to this extent,” one of the guests was quoted saying. “How did these assailants beat the President’s security?” another guest was heard wondering.

When we contacted for comment, Mbarara District Police Commander, Dickens Bindeba, said investigations were ongoing. “We got the suspect from SFG operatives and we are conducting investigations to establish what their motive was. It seems they wanted to harm the President,” said Bindeba.

Bindeba said Police are taking the matter seriously and the suspects will soon be produced in court for habouring intentions to harm the President.

In a telephone interview, Special Forces Group spokesperson, Capt. Edison Kwesiga, downplayed the incident saying: “We arrested the people who were not conforming to the activities on the ground and handed them to Police for further management.”

This incident comes hot on the heels of a March incident in which security officers arrested Busongora South MP Boaz Kafuda armed with a loaded pistol near Museveni.

Sources said Kafuda beat the President’s security and managed to enter the conference hall at Parliament with a Ukraine-made Star pistol hoisted around his waist.

He successfully passed through the security scan and headed straight to Parliament conference room where Museveni was chairing NRM caucus meet to drum up support to exonerate Bank of Uganda Governor Tumusiime Mutebile following the controverasial Shs169bn compensation to businessman Hassan Basajjabalaba.

Security sources said Kafuda proceeded to beat the inner security ring and headed straight towards the President’s seat.

“The legislator had already made his way into what one can term as a ‘sacrosanct’ security territory,” the source said.

However, as the MP tried to take a seat near the President, security men spotted him and immediately surrounded him and whisked him away.

Kafuda and Singh Katongole were also early this year reported by SFG operatives to Museveni for carrying guns during the NRM retreat at the National Leadership Institute, Kyankwanzi. Museveni reportedly cautioned the two MPs against carrying guns to occasions where he is present.

In November last year, security operatives arrested a suspected assassin in front of Museveni in Mbarara.

The suspect who was just four metres from the President had masqueraded as an entertainer. Sources said security smelt a rat when the suspect stealthily moved to the area where the President was seated.

“The man appeared to be after some shoddy deal as he continued moving closer to the president,” a source said. “He was immediately arrested and handed over to police for grilling,” he added.

Meanwhile two Old Boys on Mbarara High School perished in accident as they were heading to the cerebrations. One accident occurred on Saturday morning as three OBs were knocked by a speeding car and one died on spot.

The deceased was identified as Barnet Mwebaze, a student at Makerere University. The injured were identified as Cosmas Mwikirize who lectures at Makerere University and the third one had not yet been identified by the time we went to pres.

Another accident occurred on Friday evening at Rwebikoona where another Mbarara High School OB was knocked dead by speeding truck.