Joint Security team formed to investigate attempt on Gen. Katumba Wamala’s life

A joint security task team has commenced investigations into a targeted drive by shooting which occurred on the 1/06/2021, at around 8:47am- 8:58am along the Kisota –Kulambiro Road, Nakawa Division in the Kampala District; which claimed the lives of two victims and seriously injured a third, who were part of the occupants in a Toyota Land Cruiser under Reg No.H4DF2138.

Maj Gen Paul Lokech Deputy Inspector General of Police says the deceased persons have been identified as Nantogo Brenda, a 26-year-old female adult and daughter of Gen Katumba Wamala, and Kayondo Haruna, a male adult and driver.

The third victim, Gen Katumba Wamala sustained injuries to the arm and was rushed to Medipal International Hospital where his condition was stabilized. The fourth occupant, a bodyguard identified as SGT Khalid Koboyoit survived with no injuries.

According to the deputy IGP, this is the first major shooting since 2019 and police strongly believe it was a targeted and not random incident.

“The assailants trailed the motor vehicle as it left the home of Gen Katumba Wamala at Bulabira – Najeera, until when they reached at a remote located 4 Kms away along the Kisota –Kulambiro road. The assailants who were 4 in number were riding on two motorcycles with concealed number plates, pulled up next to Gen Katumba Wamala’s car and shot several bullets that instantly killed Nantogo Brenda and Haruna Kayondo” Gen. Lokech added.

He noted that a team of experts from the directorate of CID and Forensic are thoroughly documenting the scene for traces of evidence.

“At this stage we attribute the shooting to 4 armed assailants, who managed to escape from the scene. The exact motivation towards the targeted shooting is not yet established. We consider such attacks as a form of organized crime, with a potential of extremism, aimed at undermining the prevailing stability. We are however, confident that we shall identify the suspects and take very resolute enforcement action against them in accordance with the law” Lokech added.

He warned individuals and groups already drawn into the acts of terrorism, that police will definitely track them down for further prosecution in the courts of law.

Gen. Lopkech appealed to witnesses and anyone with surveillance videos to contact Kira Road Police on 0714667787/0714667789, adding that police have uploaded video footages to help identify the assailants.

In a statement earlier, President Yoweri Museveni said they already had clues about the assailants that carried out the heinous crime and promised that the terrorists would be defeated.

We shall defeat the criminals as we did in the past. We already have clues to those killers. Besides, the new system of digital beacons on all vehicles and Boda Bodas will eliminate the misuse of vehicles and Boda Bodas to commit crimes.

As has been the case in the past, President Museveni referred to the killers as pigs, who do not value life. He also noted that instead of shooting in the air, Gen. Katumba’s escort should have aimed directly at the shooters. He however, applauded him for saving the good General’s life.

I wish Gen. Katumba a quick recovery. The bodyguard should not have shot in the air. He should have shot to kill. We could be having a dead terrorist instead of scaring away the terrorists. His shooting saved Gen. Katumba by scaring the criminals away. However, killing one or more of the terrorists would have done the same and more.