Army says puzzled by missing Gen Katumba Wamala bodyguards

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) is puzzled over the whereabouts of the body guards of General Katumba Wamala, the former army commander and Works and Transport Minister, who was shot at this morning.

Unidentified gunmen riding on motorcycles intercepted Katumba Wamala’s vehicle registration number H4DF 2138 along Kisota road in Kisaasi and sprayed it with bullets killing his daughter, Brenda Wamala Nantongo 27, and driver, Haruna Kayondo on the spot.

Katumba Wamala sustained two gunshot wounds in his shoulders and was rushed to Malcolm Hospital in Kisaasi for treatment before being transferred to Medipal hospital where he is at the moment.

However, the military is now puzzled that at least three of the bodyguards assigned to Gen Wamala were not with him.

The Spokesperson for UPDF/ Ministry of Defense and Veteran Affairs, Brigadier Flavia Byekwaso notes that as a former Chief of Defense Forces and by virtue of his rank, General Katumba Wamala must have not less than four body guards at any time.

But eye witnesses at the scene said that the four-star general had only one escort who moved with him on the motorcycle to Malcom Hospital for first aid when the time the unfortunate incident occurred.

Byekwaso adds that as the army, they cannot yet tell why the rest of his escorts were not with him and it is only Katumba Wamala  who can explain why at that particular time he chose to move with only one.

People who have known Katumba Wamala for long say he is not a man who is used to moving with escorts and convoys. They describe him as a man who is used to moving with only one vehicle despite the fact that he has held a number of high profile and sensitive positions in government which would attract threats.

On December, 19, 2017, General Katumba Wamala in a tweet making rounds on social media dared those who wanted to attack him. It was in response to former Member of Parliament Ondonga Otto who said while appearing on one of the local televisions that Katumba Wamala had punched the Mityana Municipality MP Francis Zaake and that when the regime changes they were to go for him because they knew his families, children and gardens.

In response Katumba  Wamala tweeted “My home is plot 11 Lugogo Channel and I have no guards. If he wants to use Kaweesi style my vehicle number is UG 1626W. He doesn’t have to wait for regime change.”

The Kaweesi style Katumba Wamala was referring to happened on March 17th, 2017 when assailants moving on motorcycles gruesomely shot dead the former Spokesperson of Uganda Police Force Andrew Felix Kaweesi, his bodyguard Kenneth Erau and driver Godfrey Mambewa.

The shooting also similarly took place in Kulambiro in Kisaasi, Nakawa Division in Kampala city.

VIDEO: I have survived. We have lost Brenda and that’s God’s plan. I will pull through – Gen Katumba Wamala speaks out from his hospital bed after surviving an attempted assassination on his life this morning. #NTVNews

Courtesy video! pic.twitter.com/Gc2P5Wahwk

— NTV UGANDA (@ntvuganda) June 1, 2021

Katumba Wamala: I will be fine

General Edward Katumba Wamala has assured his family and friends that he is in safe hands following a botched attempt on his life this morning.

In a video message recorded on from his sickbed at Medipal International hospital where he is being treated for gunshot wounds on his shoulders, Gen. Katumba assures his children that he will be fine.

General Katumba explained that God has given him a second chance, saying that he will pull through, adding that he didn’t suffer grave injuries.

The former Works and Transport Minister survived an assassination attempt when unknown gunmen riding on motorcycles intercepted his vehicle registration number H4DF 2138 along Kisaasi-Kisota road in Kisaasi, a Kampala suburb.

The bullets caught Katumba’s daughter, Brenda Nantongo Wamala and driver, Haruna Kayondo killing them on the spot. Gen. Katumba escaped with gunshot wounds on his shoulders.

The gunmen also reportedly shot and injured an unidentified eyewitness who was recording the incident from a neighboring storied building, according to Isaac Kawonawo, the Wakiso Deputy Resident District Commissioner in Charge of Kiira Municipality.

*****

URN