President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni says the bodyguard to the outgoing Minister of Work and Transport, Gen Katumba Wamala should have shot to kill assassins who attempted to end his life on Tuesday morning.
The assasination attempt that left his daughter, Brenda Wamala Nantongo and his driver, Haruna Kayondo dead, occured a few minutes after 9am at Kisaasi-Kisota road when unknown assailants pelted his vehicle registration number H4DF 2138 with bullets.
While the incident unfolded, his bodyguard who was also inside the car is reported to have severally shot in the air, something, that prompted the assassins to hurriedly flee the crime scene before confirming death of their presumed target.
The President in a statement says, much as the shooting in the air saved Gen Katumba’s life, gunning down some of the assassins who he described as pigs would have served better.
“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,” says the President.
“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 adds.
At the time of the shooting, Gen Katumba who was heading to a vigil of his mother in-law. He escaped with gunshot wounds in both the arms before being rushed to Malcom Clinic in Kisaasi by nearby Boda Boda riders.
He would later be transferred to Medipal International Hospital in Kampala where he is being managed.
On his sickbed, Gen Katumba Wamala who is also a former UPDF and Police Chief, recorded a message to his children telling them that he is out of danger.
“To all my children, I will be fine. We have lost Brenda but that is God’s plan. She had nothing, she did nothing to this world but the bad guys have lied,” Gen Katumba said on his sickbed adding that “God has given me a second chance.”
Earlier, the outgoing State Minister of Tourism, Godfrey Kiwanda Ssuubi after visiting Gen Katumba in Hospital told reporters that he was headed for an operation to remove bullets stuck in one of his arms.
“He will be fine now that he had been transferred to level two for an operation. They want to remove bullets from his left shoulder, the Doctors have told us there is no bigger problem on the right side and we are hopeful that he will survive,” Kiwanda said.
This was also re-echoed by Gen Katumba himself when told his children in the same message that, “I will pull through, don’t worry I don’t have bad injuries only the arms but I will be fine.”
“I am with the doctors and the doctors are doing everything possible. I love you guys, please pray for Mummy. Mummy is in a terrible terrible state, please pray for her and do everything. Those who can come please come and burry Brenda, bye,” concluded Gen Katumba in Hospital.
Security is expected to give a press briefing on the incident and developments in investigations later today.
