“I survived. I thank God”. These are the first words from Katumba Wamala, the Uganda Minister of Works and Transport, who survived an assassination attempt in which his daughter and driver were killed.
Wamala said he was been driven to a vigil when the four gunmen on motorcycles sprayed his vehicle with bullets in Kiasasi, Kampala.
“While driving in the morning with my daughter, bodyguard and driver heading to my mother-in-law’s vigil, some terrorists tried to assassinate me. I survived, but my dear daughter Brenda Nantongo Katumba and my driver Kayondo Haruna died at the crime scene. I have no clue about the motive of this attack. There was no reason to end the lives of these innocent people. May their souls rest in peace,” he said.
Wamala disclosed that he has had surgery where bullets were removed but disclosed that doctors could not remove one, which is lodged in his arteries.
“My injuries are not alarming. I had surgery last evening, and one of the bullets was removed. However, because of how the other bullet affected my arteries, it was not removed, and the doctors will advise on the way forward.
The Minister thanked the motor-cycle taxi driver – known as boda-boda – who rescued him and rushed him to get medical attention.
“ I would like in a special way to thank the boda boda man who forced me on his boda so that I can go and get first aid. In the same spirit, I would thank Malcolm Healthcare Kisasi for everything they did to stop the bleeding. That first aid helped so much. Allow me to thank my escort, Sgt. Khalid Koboyoit for evacuating me from the crime scene as fast as he did and for shooting back at the terrorists. Things could have been worse,” he said.
Wamala also expressed gratitude to Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni for the care he has shown. “His phone calls are some of the reasons I am still fighting on,” he said.
There have been several unsolved assassinations and mysterious deaths of high profile officials in the east African country in recent years that have fuelled speculation about perpetrators and their motivations.
Victims have involved a lawmaker, a senior police officer, the country’s top public prosector, senior muslim leaders and others. Nearly all were committed by gunmen on motorcycles.
The attempt on Wamala took place in the same surbub in the capital where in 2017 gunmen on motorcycles sprayed bullets at a vehicle carrying a senior police officer. That police officer, Felix Kaweesa, was killed alongside his bodyguard and driver.
Wamala hails from the Baganda, the country’s largest ethnic group. Shortly before the attack, Wamala told his followers on Twitter: “I wish you a month of Happiness, Success, Peace, Prosperity, Good Health, and Wealth.”
We thank the unnamed boda boda rider who came to the Former Chief of Defence @GenWamala’s rescue when there was no ambulance service in sight. 🚑.
— FDC (@FDCOfficial1) June 1, 2021
Our boda boda riders are the fourth emergency service in Uganda. Let’s value their service which they do with great pride. 👏🏾 pic.twitter.com/lkvXp0HMSK
#Breaking: Gen Katumba Wamala has just survived an assassination attempt after 4 unknown armed assailants riding on 2 black motorbikes shot at his convoy, according to eye witnesses. He was riding with the daughter, driver and bodyguard. @nbstv #NBSUpdates pic.twitter.com/F3mmst6hEV
— Canary Mugume (@CanaryMugume) June 1, 2021
This is Gen Katumba Wamala’s Driver Haruna Kayondo who died at the scene. pic.twitter.com/irpCdDrZ3a
— BlackDecac⛂ (@eric_katamba) June 1, 2021
JUST IN: The assassins who attempted to kill Gen Katumba Wamala were caught on CCTV Cameras.
— Hamza (@HamzaReports) June 1, 2021
The motor cycles had number plates held with tyre rubbers. pic.twitter.com/yG9tKaGrz7
General Katumba wamala has survived an assassination God!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/GWvxBA0btU
— Douglas Lwanga (@DouglasLwangaUg) June 1, 2021