Ebonies star shot dead

By Geoffrey Kamali and Elvis Basudde Ebonies star Paul Katende was on Friday shot dead by gunmen at Mutundwe, a Kampala suburb.Ebonies is a prominent local drama group, known for its soap opera, That’s Life, Mwattu.Katende, 47, popularly known as Dr. Dick Walusimbi, was shot in the mouth at close range by the assailants, who also took his watch, money, two mobile phones and a jacket. Sources said the murder occurred moments after Katende had driven home a colleague, Harriet Nalubwama, commonly known as Nakawunde, from a rehearsal at the VCL offices in Kabusu, another Kampala suburb. The rehearsals were in preparation for a new play that was scheduled to be launched in July, officials said. Nakawunde is also said to have been his long time lover.The bandits vanished into the nearby slums, leaving Katende’s car intact. Family sources said this was the fourth attack on Katende by armed people. The Ebonies yesterday cancelled all Easter shows following the death.Born to Ssalongo Wilberforce Makanda, Katende had a higher diploma in electrical engineering. He was an electrical supervisor at the British High Commission, Kampala for over 20 years.His stage career begun as a small boy with Ngoma Players in 1969, as a fill-in. He enjoyed acting as a hobby and later joined the Black Pearls before teaming up with the Ebonies in 1992.Katende was one of the major characters in That’s Life Mwattu, in which he acted as a doctor. He is survived by a wife and children.