‘Shocked and stressed:’ Mubarak Munyagwa breaks down at friend Kato Lubwama’s funeral

The former legislator broke down in tears as he addressed the hate and disparaging commentary that Lubwama has endured, even in his death, by some sections of the public.

“If Kato Lubwama wronged you, this is your time to forgive him because for as long as you continue tossing insults at him, we his brothers hurt,” he said.

Munyagwa was most pained by the Catholic Church which refused to participate in Lubwama’s funeral because of his alleged involvement in witchcraft.

“Those who say he is not righteous, we his friends who knew him laugh at you... In all the time I spent in politics, I have not seen a good-hearted person like the man that lies before us. Only that he was not a pretender; whatever he thought he said, unlike the most of us who will smile at you when we plan to kill in the evening. How can you say that you are not going to bury him because he is unrighteous?” wondered Munyagwa before breaking down in tears.”

Hon Munyagwa has been described by Lubwama’s family as one of the two best friends of the deceased, the other being Kampala MP Muhammad Nsereko.

At the time of Lubwama's sudden death on Wednesday last week, Munyagwa had just been arrested and remanded to prison for trespass and property damage.

Anthony Mubiru, Lubwama’s half brother, told the press that the deceased was deeply shocked by the news of Munyagwa’s arrest.

 “He was at MM Pub (in Kabusu), when he got the news that Munyagwa had been remanded. He bent forward and appeared to lose his breath,” Mubiru narrated.

“His condition continued to deteriorate until his friends decided to take him to a Stabuwa’s hospital. But by the time they got there he was dead. I found when he was still warm but there was no pulse in his body.”

In his speech last night, at the ancestral home of Lubwama in Nkozi, Munyagwa said he was “shocked and stressed” by Lubwama’s passing.

He however, promised to be there for his friend’s children and to ensure that none of them is left to go astray.

Lubwama is being laid to rest today, Wednesday June 14th besides his parents at their family burial ground in Nkozi.