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Uganda’s former Minister of Works and Transport and a four-star General in the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Edward Katumba Wamala yesterday survived an assassination attempt in Kampala.

His daughter Brenda Wamala Nantogo and driver Haruna Kayondo were killed in the 9am attack by gunmen who sprayed their Toyota Landcruiser, bearing a military number plate, with bullets.

According to eyewitnesses, the gunmen escaped from the scene on motorcycles.

Wamala and her daughter were heading for the burial of a relative in Najjanankumbi.

Uganda authorities confirmed the deaths and said a probe into the attack had been launched

Last task

Wamala served as the minister in the former Cabinet which was dissolved last month after the expiry of President Yoweri Museveni’s fifth term. 

He was expected to be re-appointed in the next government to be announced next month.

Wamala served as the Commander of the Land Forces of the UPDF between 2005 and 2013. He became Chief of Defence Forces from 2013 to 2017. Between 2001 and 2005, he served as the Inspector General of Police Force.

While the minister, one of his last tasks was to fire the top management and the board members of the Uganda Airlines over corruption and mismanagement of funds.

The assassination attempt was carried out in the same manner as those that killed 28 people, including the former Police spokesperson Andrew Felix Kaweesi, in the past seven years

On March 17, 2017 Major General and Assistant Inspector General of Police Kaweesi was shot in the morning as he was leaving his home for work.

His driver Geoffrey Wambewo and bodyguard Kenneth Erau also died in the attack. Kaweesi was shot 27 times, his bodyguard 33 times and the driver 11 times.

Attack dare

In December 2017, Wamala dared Aruu County MP Odonga Otto to attack him. Wamala had differed with Mityana MP Francis Zaake during a debate on age limit.

The former army commander was caught on camera seemingly punching the youthful MP although he publicly denied it.

This prompted Otto to threaten the General saying he would take revenge after regime change.

Wamala, however, told him not to wait for the regime change to attack.

He went further and gave Otto details of his residence and the registration number of the car he drives.

He tweeted: “My home is plot 11 Lugogo Channel & I have no guards. If he wants to use Kaweesi style my vehicle no is UG1626W. He doesn’t have to wait for Regime Change.”