Crime
Absence of escort vehicle made Gen. Katumba Vulnerable to attackers- President Museveni
President Yoweri Museveni has noted that former Chief of Defence Forces, CDF Gen. Katumba Wamala made a mistake of not moving with an escort car with guards, leaving him vulnerable to attackers.
Gen. Katumba, a four-star General was attacked on Tuesday 1st June 2021 attacked by unknown gunmen who sprayed his vehicle with bullets, killing his daughter Brenda Wamala Nantongo and driver Sergeant Hassan Kayondo instantly, while the Katumba escaped with gunshot injuries.
On the fateful morning, Katumba also former Minister of Works and Transport had only one bodyguard who escaped unharmed and managed to save his boss.
However, while addressing the country last night about the COVID-19 and security situations in the country, the president said that when Gen. Katumba became a Minister, he stopped moving with a follow, and at the time of the incident, he did not have one.
“He was moving with one escort and a driver. Now, I did not know that. A whole 4-star general, given that we still have these isolated incidents, he should be having a follow car and now he has it. Because if he had a follow car, it would not have been easy to attack him. But even then, the bodyguard reacted and that’s how he chased away the killers” the President said.
He added that at the time of the incident, the country had relaxed, but that they have since mobilized. He further revealed that the shooters in the Katumba incident were at some point stopped by a traffic officer who stopped them but they did not stop and there was nothing the officer could do, because he had no gun.
“You can see these people are using our laxity to commit crime, but when you provoke us and we wake up, what will you do? Because we shall eventually get you. Now, the traffic police are going to be armed, so you will no longer come and pass by the traffic police like they did, they will be armed now, or paired with armed people. You try to pass; they shoot you” president Museveni said.
He therefore says this cannot continue and this will be dealt with.
