Katumba Wamala Attempted Murder Case: Prosecution Presents First Witness

The prosecution, led by Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Lino Anguzu, has presented its first witness in the case against six individuals accused of attempting to murder Minister for Transport and Works General Edward Katumba Wamala, and subsequently murdering his daughter Brenda Katumba and driver Haruna Kayondo.

The witness, 30-year-old Nawalu Nakatudde, a former salesperson at Denovo Bakery in Kalerwe and a victim-survivor of one of the shootings, appeared before a panel of four International Crimes Division judges: Lady Justice Susan Okalany, Dr. Winifred Nabisinde, Wejuli Wabwire, and Vincent Wagona.

Sarah Namayanja, Albert Kasasa, and Judith Muhairwe were appointed as court assessors, sworn in to provide their opinions at the end of the trial, though their views are not binding on the court’s decision. Lubega Robert Seguya, an interpreter, also took the interpreter's oath.

Nakatudde, whose current place of residence and work have been concealed for safety reasons, testified that on September 17, 2017, she was working at Denovo Bakery’s Kalerwe outlet, standing in for a colleague on maternity leave. She explained that she worked until 9:00 pm that day, which was when the incident occurred.

According to Nakatudde, it was customary for company cashiers, accompanied by two police officers, to collect the money around 8:30 pm. However, that evening, Nakatudde decided to lock herself inside the shop to begin counting the day's earnings.

She stated that a police officer, Mubiru, collected more than 4 million shillings in coins from her before the attack. As she was closing the door, Nakatudde was shot in her right hand and thigh. She described seeing an assailant wearing black clothes with a gun, realizing that she was being robbed. Nakatudde attempted to escape through the back door but was unable to due to a burglar’s gate.

She tied her injured hand with a scarf and made her final prayers, believing she was near death. When the shooting stopped, she tried to return to the front door, but the gunfire resumed. She sought assistance from a cleaner to lock the door and call her relatives. After the shooting ended, Nakatudde found police officer Mubiru lying dead outside the bakery. 

She was later rushed to Mulago Hospital by a boda boda, where she received treatment for her injuries. She spent three weeks at the hospital recovering from the bullet wounds. Nakatudde showed the court her injured hand, though the judges noted that they had already taken note of her injuries, and there was no need to display her thigh. She expressed ongoing fear and trauma, avoiding Kalerwe after the incident.

She also described seeing the body of Denovo driver Haruna Kayondo at Mulago Hospital, where he died from injuries sustained in the shooting. Additionally, she witnessed the deaths of two other police officers, Mubiru and Kalungi, at the bakery. However, she confirmed that she did not recognize any of the accused persons in the court dock. 

During cross-examination, defense attorneys Caleb Alaka, Evans Ochieng, and Geoffrey Turyamusiima questioned Nakatudde’s police statement, pointing out discrepancies in her hospital report, such as the lack of mention of the thigh injury or the names of the deceased officers. Nakatudde explained that the statement was taken while she was still traumatized and in pain, leading to missing details. 

The accused persons—Muhammad Kagugube, Sirimani Kisambira, Abdullah Aziz Ramadhan, Dunka, Kamada Walusimbi, Habib Ramadhan Marjan, and Huzaifah Wampa—are facing charges including terrorism, murder, attempted murder, aggravated robbery, and belonging to a terrorist organization. They were committed to trial in January 2022, and the charges stem from various violent incidents, including the June 2021 attempted murder of General Katumba Wamala and the murders of his daughter and driver. 

The accused are also implicated in multiple murders, robberies, and terrorist activities, including the killings of several individuals in Kampala, Wakiso, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Prosecutors have presented evidence, including weapons, ammunition, and other materials recovered from the homes of the accused, linking them to the crimes. The trial continues, with the second prosecution witness expected to testify after a brief break.