Inside murdered journalist Joe Nam’s final moments

________________

Fresh details surrounding the brutal Sunday morning murder of Joe Nam, a former New Vision journalist, indicate that his assailant trailed him and appeared to be interested only in his mobile phone, eyewitnesses have revealed.

Kampala Metropolitan Police (KMP) deputy spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire on Sunday said Nam was killed at Kawanda Central, Nabweru division, Wakiso district, in the early hours of April 19, 2026.

“Preliminary information indicates that an unidentified armed assailant shot and killed him. The suspect, who was masked, fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Owoyesigyire said.

It has since emerged that the deceased was living with his sister and, as was his routine, often stayed up late to pray at a nearby church.

According to a family member, on the fateful night, he stayed out at the church as usual until about 1:00 am, praying.

At around that time, something unusual happened. Nam, on his way back from the church to the house, urgently called out to his sister, who was inside.

As she rushed out, Nam shouted a plea to his assailant, "Don't do it, don't do it! The angels are seeing you!"

Two gunshots then rang out.

As the sister hurried out through the kitchen door, the assailant confronted her and held her at gunpoint. The front door was locked.

The assailant walked into the sitting room, where there were about three to five laptops, but left them untouched and instead left with Nam’s handset.

Some boys in the house were restrained from rushing out because the attacker was armed.

After a short while, they alerted neighbours and the police, who are now investigating the incident.

Assistant Inspector General of Police and director of the Criminal Investigations Directorate, Tom Magambo, said a team had been dispatched to probe the murder.

“It’s a tragedy indeed. Our joint security team in KMP is investigating the incident. You will be updated on the outcome in due course,” AIGP Magambo.