Only hours to his gruesome murder, former Buyende District Police Commander ASP Muhammad Kirumira gave a piece of advice to journalists.
Kirumira was shot dead by unknown assailants a few metres from his home in Bulenga on Saturday evening.
However, a few minutes after NBS’ Bashir Mbaziira Kazibwe’s announcement as the newly elected Uganda Journalists’ president, Kirumira asked the media fraternity to unite against their common enemy.
“My brothers and sisters in the media fraternity I congratulate you for using democracy and elected leaders you think will build your association,”Kirumira said in a WhatsApp voice note he sent to various journalists groups.
“I congratulate the winners and the losers for participating in the health competition of choosing leaders.”
Kirumira has been at the forefront of working with journalists and fighting for their rights.
While still serving as the DPC in charge of Old Kampala police station, Kirumira always invited journalists during police operations against criminals.
During his trial by the police tribunal early this year, Kirumira in a scene was seen pushing fellow police officers who were stopping journalists from attending the trial at the police headquarters in Naguru.
In what would be his last message to journalists, Kirumira urged members of the fourth estate to work together for a common enemy.
“The elected should work together with the losers for the benefit for your profession. There are many challenges you face but need a central voice. Time now is for work. Come together as a group to fight for your rights,” the maverick police officer said.
“You have a challenge that some of you work for certain groups of people and personalities that in case of any agreed cause, others will be against the cause. Fight for the welfare of your colleagues for a standard pay for you as a minimum. The fact that one is on the list of employees in a certain company should have a basic pay.”
Kirumira was buried on Sunday at his ancestral home in Mpambire, Mpigi district.
