Gen Edward Katumba Wamala has told court that he still fears for his life more than five years after surviving an assassination attempt that killed his daughter Brenda Nantongo and his driver Haruna Kayondo.
The Minister of Public Service made the revelation while testifying before the International Crimes Division of the High Court in Kampala in a case where six suspects are accused of taking part in the June 1, 2021 attack.
Gen Katumba, who appeared as the 18th prosecution witness, narrated the painful events of the day when armed attackers opened fire on his vehicle in an incident that shocked the country.
The former army commander told court that his daughter Brenda Nantongo was the first person to be hit by the attackers during the shooting.
He recalled hearing his daughter cry out “Jesus!” before she collapsed onto him after being shot. He said the moment remains one of the most painful experiences of his life.
Gen Katumba further told court that he realised his driver was also attacked after noticing that the vehicle was no longer moving.
He said he looked towards the driver’s seat and saw his driver’s head had dropped, indicating that he had been shot during the attack.
The minister explained that he was also injured after bullets hit his shoulders, leaving him with injuries that have continued to affect him years later.
He told court that he underwent medical treatment and had a metallic implant placed in one of his arms because of the injuries he sustained.
Gen Katumba said the injuries have continued causing him pain, adding that he later sought specialised treatment after screws used to secure the implant became loose.
The former Chief of Defence Forces said the attack changed his lifestyle completely and forced him to become more careful about his movements and interactions.
He told court that before the incident, he was a social person who freely interacted with people, but the attack made him less outgoing.
“From then until now, I am still scared for my life. I am not as outgoing as I was before,” Gen Katumba told court.
He explained that losing his daughter and driver in such a violent manner left him with emotional pain that he continues to carry.
The prosecution, led by Marion Ben Bella, presented Gen Katumba as a key witness in the case against the six suspects accused of involvement in the attack.
The accused persons, Muhammad Kagugube, Kamada Walusimbi, Suleman Kisambira, Abdulla-Aziz Ramadhan Ddunku, Habib Ramadhan Marajan and Mzee Ssewampa, face charges related to the June 2021 shooting.
They appeared before a panel of four judges led by Justice Winfred Nabisinde, alongside Justices Vincent Waggona, Richard Wabwire and Susan Akalany.
However, the defence team has maintained that their clients are innocent and questioned the evidence presented against them.
Defence lawyer Geoffrey Turyamusiima argued that none of the 18 witnesses who have testified so far has identified the accused persons as having been seen at the crime scene.
The hearing continues as court examines more evidence regarding the attack that left Gen Katumba injured and claimed the lives of his daughter Brenda Nantongo and driver Haruna Kayondo.
