Uganda Police has announced the arrest of a second shooter in an assassination attempt on Gen Katumba Wamala who is also the Minister for works and Transport last month.
The police through the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Maj Gen Paul Lokech identified the second suspected shooter as Huzaifa Wampa, alias Kanaabe, 30.
On June1, 2021, four gunmen riding on two motorcycles sprayed the four star general’s vehicle in Kisaasi, a Kampala suburb killing his daughter Nantongo Brenda on spot plus his driver, SGT Haruna kayondo.
According to the police, an operation was conducted on July-12th-2021 which was yesterday and led to the arrest of the second suspected shooter in the attack on Gen Edward Katumba Wamala.
The suspect was a former member of the Boda boda 2010 who was later recruited into these criminal activities,”Lokech ”said in a statement read by the police spokesperson, Fred Enanga.
He said the suspect was arrested from a hideout at Kikomeko village, Kalule trading centre in Luweero district.
“Upon arrest, a search was conducted from his premises and a motorcycle UEO, 375D used in the attack on Gen Wamala was recovered, a hood used to cover his head, an assortment of warm suits, gloves and many other items used in the attack.”
A second motorcycle allegedly used to carry out surveillance on the movements of Gen Katumba Wamala for a period of six months since December 2020 was also recovered.
The deputy Police chief said on interrogation, the suspect confessed to have participated in several other shootings and robberies around the country.
Gen Lokech added that the group are hardcore and well trained people that security could not take chance while handling them.
“The public should know that we are dealing with a very deadly and militant group. In the counter terror operations that we conducted, most of the suspects were violent and confrontational, to the raids made on their hide-outs and during the recovery of the killer weapons, i.e. the two AK47 guns and a pistol and other relevant
Two of our officers who were seriously injured are still nursing wounds,”he said.
The development brings to eight suspects arrested by security over the attempted assassination of Gen Katumba Wamala including Ssembula Hussein Ismail alias Imamu Muto, a 38 year old bodaboda rider of Nakuwade Village, Wakiso District and Nyanzi Yusufu Siraje a 46 year old herbalist and resident of Kyanja Village, were charged with one count of Terrorism, two counts of murder of Nantogo Brenda Katumba and SGT Haruna Kayondo and two counts of attempted murder of Gen Katumba Wamala and Sgt. Khalid Kuboit.