Besigye Tormentor’s Wife Collapses Over Husband Actions

John Abimanyi

30 April 2011

The wife to Gilbert Arinaitwe, the security operative who used his gun’s butt to knock out the windscreen of Dr Kizza Besigye’s car window before unleashing pepper-spray and tear gas directly on the opposition leader’s face and body, collapsed yesterday evening as the news of her husband’s actions reached her, a close family source revealed to this newspaper.

Ms Beatrice Arinaitwe, who is said to be pregnant with Mr Arinaitwe’s first child, is currently on bed rest and under the constant supervision of her family doctor.

The news of her husband’s actions hit her very hard and made her yield to high blood pressure hence collapsing, the source says. By Friday afternoon, however, she was steadily recovering.

The security operative’s wife did not get to see her husband’s antics relayed on TV but had to suffer the confusing effects of a barrage of phone calls from friends and relatives who saw Gilbert step into action like a seasoned mortal combat star. “It is after so many people started telling her of what her husband had done that she collapsed,” the source says.

Ms Arinaitwe, a lawyer, fell in love with her husband in part due to his calmness. He was always wearing a smile and was always preaching the word of God. “And that (his actions yesterday) is what has shocked the wife so much,” the source says. She married Mr Arinaitwe early last year.

The source says relatives of the family, plus fellow church members at Miracle Centre Cathedral, Rubaga, are still overwhelmed with shock as they have thrust Beatrice into the limelight under such embarrassing circumstances.

Yesterday afternoon, photographs of the couple’s delightful wedding day, circulated on internet social networking sites, Facebook and Twitter, and across email platforms. The photo’s mass circulation, including being published in Friday’s newspapers, have brought uncalled for bad publicity to the wife, the source further adds.

Gilbert Arinaitwe’ actions have sparked anger amongst supporters of Dr Besigye and NRM supporters alike and resulted in a countrywide protest on Friday in various parts of the country.

AllAfrica – All the Time