On February 24, 2025, Ugandan writer and activist Kakwenza Rukirabashaija made a serious accusation on his X account, claiming that Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the son of President Yoweri Museveni, was behind the attempt to assassinate Gen. Katumba Wamala, Uganda’s Minister of Works and Transport.
This accusation follows a high-profile attack on June 1, 2021, when Gen. Katumba Wamala survived an assassination attempt in which his daughter and driver were killed.
The attack took place in Kampala, near Gen. Wamala’s home, while he was traveling in an army vehicle. Gunmen on motorcycles opened fire on the vehicle, killing his daughter, Brenda Nantongo, and his driver, Haruna Kayondo. Gen. Wamala and his bodyguard survived the attack.
Despite the government’s response and President Museveni’s condemnation of the incident, the motive for the attack remains unclear. Investigations are ongoing, with phone records potentially linked to the attack being examined.
The attack on Gen. Wamala is part of a wider pattern of violence in Uganda, where gunmen on motorcycles have carried out several high-profile shootings in recent years.
Among the victims are politician Ibrahim Abiriga, former police spokesperson Andrew Felix Kaweesi, and other notable figures. Unfortunately, these attacks have not led to successful investigations or prosecutions.
Kakwenza’s accusation has stirred debate and heightened tensions, as the investigation into the 2021 attack continues and the true motives behind the shootings remain unknown.
