Kampala, Uganda | URN | Unidentified gunmen have shot dead the daughter and bodyguard of the former Transport and Works Minister, General Edward Katumba Wamala.
The gunmen on Tuesday 1, June 2021 morning at about 9 am intercepted Gen. Katumba, who was driving in his vehicle registration number H4DF 2138 along Kisaasi-Kisota road, and sprayed it with bullets.
Eyewitnesses say Gen. Katumba’s daughter identified as Brenda Wamala Nantongo and his driver, Haruna Kayondo died on the spot while the general escaped with gunshot wounds in both of his shoulders.
By the time of filing this report, the bodies were still in the vehicle that was still at the crime scene, cordoned off by the detectives in search of clues.
Gen. Katumba was first rushed to Malcolm Clinic in Kisaasi for first aid before being transferred to Medipal International Hospital on John Babiiha Avenue near the Golf Course. Gen. Katumba had reportedly like always just bought newspapers from the nearby mosque when he got attacked.
General Katumba Wamala is not the first high-profile Ugandan official to be attacked by armed gunmen riding on motorcycles.
On March 17, 2017, unknown gunmen trailed and shot dead the former police spokesperson, Andrew Felix Kaweesi, his bodyguard, Kenneth Erau and driver, Godfrey Mambewa.
Read Also: Corrupt Uganda Airlines officials must face consequences – Museveni
The trio was gunned down, a few meters from Kaweesi’s home in Kulambiro in Kisaasi, a Kampala suburb. Kaweesi’s assassination followed the nearly a carbon copy murder of former state prosecutor, Joan Kagezi in 2015 and Major Muhammad Kiggundu in 2016.
In June 2018, unidentified assailants also gunned down Arua Municipality Member of Parliament, Ibrahim Abiriga in a similar manner.
Who is Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala
Gen Katumba has been serving as Minister of Works and Transport in the Ugandan cabinet, since 14 December 2019.
He previously served as the Chief of Defence Forces of Uganda, the highest military rank in the Uganda People’s Defense Force (UPDF), from 2013 until 2017.
He was the commander of land forces in the UPDF from 2005 to 2013. He also served as the Inspector General of Police (IGP) of the Uganda Police Force (UPF), the highest rank in that branch of Uganda’s government, from 2001 until 2005.
Gen. Katumba Wamala was the first active UPDF soldier to serve as the head of the UPF.
