Security are investigating the shooting at the vehicle that left the former Minister of Works and Transport Gen Edward Katumba Wamala nursing injuries while his driver and daughter died.
Gen Katumba who survived with what he described as minor injuries was travelling in a UPDF car with his body guard who was unhurt as well as his daughter Brenda Wamala Nantongo and his driver, Haruna Kayondo died in the shooting.
According to the video footage that has been circulating on social media after the Tuesday morning incident, Gen Katumba is seen walking around with blood stained clothes on the road at Kisota Road- Kisasi, a Kampala Suburb. He was shortly rushed to the hospital for treatment.
Detectives in both the army and Police stormed and cordoned off the scene of crime and started picking a number of items among them bullet cartridges from the scene to form basis of their investigations.
In a statement issued, the Spokesperson of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF), Brig. Gen Flavia Byekwaso said that investigations into the matter are ongoing.
“…armed assailants on two motorbikes trailed and shot at the vehicle of Gen Katumba in which the general was injured, his daughter and driver killed,” said Brig. Gen Byekwaso adding that Gen Katumba is out of danger.
Gen Katumba, a four star general who is currently undergoing treatment at Medipal Hospital in Kampala, has been serving as Minister of Works and Transport in the Ugandan cabinet, since 14 December 2019.
Gen Katumba and his daughter were reportedly heading for the burial of their close relative in Najjanankumbi on Entebbe road.
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.
Gen Katumba speaks out
In a recorded video, Gen Katumba has appealed to his family to keep calm saying he will be fine although his daughter and driver died in the attack.
“To all my children, I will be fine. I have survived…we have lost Brenda but that’s God’s plan. She did nothing to this world but the bad guys have done it, but God has given me second chance. Don’t worry, I don’t have bad injuries; only the arms but I will be fine. I’m with the doctors and they are doing everything possible. I love you guys but please pray for mummy because she’s in a terrible state. Please pray for her and those who can come please do,” Gen Wamala said in a video recording to his family members.
Museveni speaks out
Meanwhile President Museveni has vowed to defeat armed assailants who attacked and injured Gen Katumba.
Museveni said that the former army chief is being well-managed, adding that the security team has clues to the assailants he described as pigs who do not value life.
“The pigs who do not value life shot at Gen. Katumba killed his daughter and driver and injured him. Condolences on the loss of the two Ugandans. I talked to Gen. Katumba twice on the phone. He is being well-managed. 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,” Mr Museveni said in a statement he tweeted on Tuesday afternoon.
Gen Katumba 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 was the first active UPDF soldier to serve as the head of the UPF.
The assassination attempt was carried out in the same style as those that led to the death over 28 people, including top government officials, in the past seven years.
Those killed include 23 Muslim clerics, former MP Ibrahim Abiriga, former Police spokesperson Andrew Felix Kaweesi, Prosecutor Joan Kagezi, and Police officer Muhammad Kirumira, among others.
“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,” he added.