I did not betray Mbabazi- Former body guard

Former Amama Mbabazi’s head of security, Mr Christopher Aine has dismissed claims that he betrayed the former Presidential candidate when he allegedly crossed to serve President Museveni’s brother Caleb Akandwanaho alias, Salim Saleh.

In an exclusive interview with the Nile Post, Aine said that has never fallen out with Mbabazi, adding that there is more to it than what people see.

“Gen Saleh did not invite me to join the NRM, I simply told him why I had run away and he explained to me that he was a friend to my late father and that he would help me mediate issues with police and government. So I did not betray Mr Mbabazi,” Aine said.

“Mr Mbabazi and I are still close, I told him about my decision and he is okay with it. He still gives me guidance where necessary and has told me never to deviate from important issues that he elaborated during his campaign,” Aine added.

Aine however blamed the opposition specifically for blowing the situation out of proportion, by incensing rumours about his alleged death during the period he had disappeared.

“There is time for everything, I was looking for safe heaven, but it seems some people mostly from the opposition wanted me dead,” Aine said.

During Amama Mbabazi’s campaign stop in Ntungamo District in December 2015, a group of NRM supporters clashed with Go Forward (Mbabazi’s group) supporters in what appeared to be a debut for a Christopher Aine, in the political books of this country.

Christopher Aine, who had not only become Amama Mbabazi’s political confidant but also a security expert would later get the worst out of Museveni when the fountain of honour gathered journalists to make it clear that Aine had walked past his steps.

It is at the very gathering that Museveni dropped the sentence that became his other campaign slogan; “If you put your hands in the anus of a leopard, you are in trouble,” Museveni said in relation to Aine and his cohort on December 21, 2015.

A few weeks earlier, Aine had been spotted in a video swinging weighty punches to a group of about 8 policemen who had tried to cease him on a campaign trail in Jinja.

But for a man who had earned a name in the public eye as the no nonsense former SFC officer, the indefatigable Aine, his limelight was short lived as news broke that he had gone missing and later discovered dead and dumped in a city funeral parlour.

Amama Mbabazi hired a litany of lawyers to have his head of security produced dead or alive, Aine’s family also mounted pressure by hiring a private investigator and holding innumerable press briefings before staking a staggering Shs20m for whoever produced their son, as if in retaliation, Uganda Police also placed Shs20m on Aine’s head and splashed ready money in posters announcing Aine’s disappearance.

To the surprise of all the parties above however, Aine resurfaced two months after at the home of Museveni’s brother, Caleb Akandwanaho, alias Salim Saleh.

Standing meekly and penitent, with a little more weight and a mound of hair, Aine said he had returned from his hiding in order to put an end to the circus that had ensued from his disappearance.

Apologizing to those he hurt by his disappearance, including Mr Mbabazi, Mr Aine said he wanted a new life outside security. His host Saleh did not shoot away from the obvious, he said as his “father” he would ensure Aine’s life returns to normal and he would lead negotiations to ensure Aine regains total freedom.

At that point, all cases against Aine started getting dismissed in courts of law, leaving the public in wonder if Aine had sold his boss for freedom.