Veteran Singer-Songwriter/Guitarist Mwami Frank Mbalire lost his Custom Electric Guitar on Sunday morning when thugs climbed over the wall and broke into his car just after the Afrigo Band had concluded their 48-year concert celebration last weekend.
The search for the guitar where immediately conducted and on Tuesday, the guitar was recovered from a shop at Kisekka market.
The guitar was recovered by a youth who had gone to the shop to purchase one but found the exact guitar that was stolen from Mbalire. it was resprayed and the paint was still wet.
He asked for the price to which he was told it cost Shs600k and took its pictures and thereafter sent them to the concerned parties who confirmed it was the real one.
However, when the guitar was returned to Mwami Mbalire, he noted that he had lost interest in the Guitar because it was desecrated, and violated.
However, the other items that were stolen with the guitar are still missing up to now.
“THE STOLEN GUITAR IS RECOVERED
On Sunday morning just after the Afrigo Band @48 concert, robbers climbed over the wall, broke into his car and stole Veteran Singer-Songwriter/Guitarist Mwami Mbalire’s Guitar. On Sunday we spoke and he shared the pictures which I and others shared on social media.
On Tuesday, Mwami Frank Mbalire called me and said someone found a guitar in a shop at Kisekka Market and was sure it was the stolen Guitar. He said the Guitar was resprayed, the paint was still wet. The paint job as you can see, was so horrible!
Without alerting the shop owner, this person even took pictures and asked for the price. The price was 600K, ONLY!! The young man hang around but couldn’t wait too long, as it would raise suspicion I guess.
So, I called a couple of Police Officers who were very helpful but said that Mwami Mbalire must first report the theft to a Police Station so that there is a reference number issued/case opened, then they would swing into action. Unfortunately, Mwami Mbalire was out of town for a burial and by then, his phone battery was low.
I decided to call Edward Sendi to chart a way forward. I sent him the pictures and the name of the the shop. On Wednesday, he told me he’d spoken to a friend who knew the shop owner, and he’d told the shop owner what the situation is. Sendi gave me the number of his friend, who I proceeded to call.
We spoke and he told me that the shop owner was ready to deliver the Guitar to us. He gave me the contact of the shop owner, who I called. The shop owner told me how the Guitar was brought to him, by a “Musajja omukulu”, who said that the Guitar was sent to him from overseas but he repainted it because he didn’t like the original colour.
By then Mwami Mbalire told me he’d lost interest in the Guitar because it was desecrated, violated
The thing is, our instruments are so personal to us, just the thought that another person(s) gets a hold of it and does whatever they want to it, is nauseating.
I told him that that would set a bad precedent, we’d rather get the Guitar back and give it away. He agreed that we should get it back.
The Guitar has been delivered to us.
I’d like to thank all those who posted about this theft, helping us to locate this Guitar in hours!
Unfortunately, here’s some items that are yet to be found;
1. Boss Guitar Effects Pedal (Maroon in colour. If you look closely in the picture of the Guitar, it’s to the right of the picture on top of the Amp)
2. Tuner
3. DI box (Blue in colour. If you look closely in the picture of the Guitar, it’s to the left of the picture on top of the Amp)
4. Boss Adapter
Again, thank you to the young man who located the Guitar and to everyone who shared the pictures. Your vigilance is truly appreciated”.
