He might be the Justice minister, NRA guerilla war hero, known for his outspoken and sometimes provocative nature, but that didn’t save Maj Gen Kahinda Otafiire from the wrath of his father in-law. Mr David Bwizi, Otafiire’s new father in-law, wondered how his 30-year-old daughter, Fridah Nayebale, had ended up with Otafiire; “Considering the age and tribal differences; his stature and character!” “The hard thing to understand is how a person like Nayebale could come close to a man like Otafaiire. He is a tough man,” Mr Bwizi wondered. Not even the senior figures that were part of the General’s entourage could stop Mr Bwizi from speaking his mind. Otafiire was accompanied to Kiruhura District by Lt Gen Ivan Koreta, Maj. Amanya Mushega, (Rtd), Maj. Bright Rwamirama, Maj Gen Jim Mihwezi, and Brig Henry Tumukunde, but Mr Bwizi went on to query the way the function had been organised at short notice; Mr Bwizi lashed out at his son-in-law and his entourage for disguising that they had to come and ask for Nayebale’s hand in marriage, yet he had been with her for very long.
“Who are you fooling? You come here to say I am asking for your daughter! Yet you have been with her for all these years? No, no, no! It’s not even introduction or Give away, It is coming to give you a go ahead to legalise your marriage. I gave you Nayebale the day I saw Sam (the couple’s son).”
At this point, it was clear Mr Bwizi was boiling with anger as he added, “It is nonsensical to introduce when you have a wife in bed.” A rather unamused Bwizi then decided to end his speech before he could perform any rituals, “What a mockery! My give away (ritual) has ended here. I will not do anything more. Go make your (marriage) arrangements, I will come and attend.” Our sources who attended the very low-key event, told us that “the ceremony was devoid of fanfare and pomp”.
