KAMPALA —Former Uganda Chief of Defense Forces (CDF), and Transport Minister Gen. Katumba Wamala has been shot in Kiasasi on Tuesday morning.
Gen. Katumba Wamala’s daughter, Brenda Nantongo and their driver Haruna Kayondo have been confirmed dead in an assassination attempt on the General’s life. The car was shot seven times.
It is reported that the shooting happened in Kisota —Kisaasi, a Kampala suburb on Tuesday morning.
This website has learnt that Gen Wamala has been rushed to Medipal Hospital near John Babiiha Raod for treatment.
Gen. Wamala was the commander of land forces in the UPDF from 2005 to 2013.
He also served as the Inspector General of Police (IGP) of the Uganda Police Force (UPF), the highest rank in that branch of Uganda’s government, from 2001 until 2005. Wamala was the first active UPDF soldier to serve as the head of the UPF.
Gen Wamala was an officer in the Uganda National Liberation Army (UNLA) when the National Resistance Army (NRA) defeated the UNLA in 1986.
He transitioned into the NRA without incident.
Between 1999 and 2000, he was a student at the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Between 2000 and 2001, at the rank of major general, he commanded the UPDF forces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
He was appointed IGP in 2001, serving in that capacity until 2005.
He was then promoted to lieutenant general and given the title of commander of land forces, based at Bombo Military Barracks, making him one of the highest senior officers in the Ugandan military.
In his role as commander of the land forces, he was closely engaged in the peace-keeping mission that the UPDF performs in Somalia, commonly referred to as AMISOM.
On 23 May 2013, he was promoted to the rank of four-star general and appointed chief of defence forces.
Katumba holds a certificate in agriculture. In 2007, he graduated from Nkumba University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in international relations and diplomacy. He also holds a Master’s degree of Science degree in strategic leadership from the United States Army War College.
He has military qualifications from the following military schools: Uganda Military Academy, Tanzania Military Academy, a military academy in the Soviet Union, Nigerian Command and Staff College, United States Army Command and General Staff College, and United States Army War College.