Muhammad Kirumira shot dead near his home

Sep 08, 2018

The woman in Kirumira's car at the time of the assassination was not his wife, as initially reported, Police said, withholding her name.

CRIME

IN SUMMARY:

- Police officer Muhammad Kirumira is assassinated
- Incident takes place at around 9:00pm local time
- Former DPC of Buyende is murdered near his home
- Female occupant of car initially thought to be his wife
- Police later clarify she was another woman, not wife
- Police foresincs team inspect bullet-ridden car
- Kirumira pronounced dead at Rubaga Hospital
- Police condemns 'heinous' act, vows to find killers

____________________________________

(UPDATED) - Former Buyende District Police Commander, Muhammad Kirumira, was fatally shot near his residence Saturday evening in Bulenga, Wakiso district.

At the time, he was driving -- reportedly bound for home -- when gunmen waylaid him and opened fire at Bulenga trading centre. A female occupant of the car, who was initially reported to be his wife, was also targetted.

The assassins were riding on a motorcycle, eyewitnesses were cited by local media as saying. The shooting happened at around 9:00pm local time.

Bleeding heavily from gunshot wounds, the two were rushed to Rubaga Hospital in Kampala, where they were later declared dead.

'Wife was not with him at the time'

Police's initial statement after the incident indicated that Kirumira was with his wife at the time of the Saturday evening murder.

But later, they issued a correction saying she was not.

"We have since established that the lady assassinated along with our officer, ASP Muhammad Kirumira, is not his wife. The wife was not with him at the time.

"We've identified the lady and interacted with her family. We shall withhold releasing her name in the meantime," a follow-up tweet on the official Police page said.

CORRECTION:We have since established that the lady assassinated along with our officer, ASP Muhammad Kirumira is not his wife. The wife wasn't with him at the time. We've identified the lady & interacted with her family. We shall withhold releasing her name in the meantime https://t.co/1lxMqBAEUb
— Uganda Police Force (@PoliceUg) September 8, 2018

Police, in their earlier statement confirming the murder of Kirumira, vowed to "hunt down these criminals and bring them to book".

Police spokesperson Emilian Kayima said Kirumira and the second occupant were pronounced dead upon arrival at hospital.

"The Uganda Police Force is greatly concerned with the assassination of ASP Muhammad Kirumira at Bulenga near his home at around 9:00pm."

Kayima said the woman, too, "succumbed to bullet wounds and was pronounced dead on arrival at Rubaga Hospital".

"He [Kirumira] was driving his personal vehicle, which is still at the scene of crime at Bulenga. We condemn these heinous criminal acts and promise to hunt down these merciless criminals and bring them to book. May they rest in peace," he added.

Police said Kirumira was shot in his personal car

A Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC) reporter spoke to an eyewitness near the scene of crime.

"I feel sad. It was clear Afande Kirumira was coming from somehere with a female occupant," he said.

"Two men riding on motorcyles without number plates approached Kirumira's car and shot at the hind tyre," added the man. "Then they opened fire, before making off towards Mityana road."

This was on Musoke road, which turns to Kirumira's residence.

Police cordoned off the crime scene and a forensics team was seen inspecting the bullet-ridden car.

Traffic on the route was paralysed as scores of people gathered on the fringes of the marked-out scene of crime.

Kirumira's murder left many people visibly shaken

Runaway hitmen

Kirumira's assassination was executed under familiar circumstances.

In June, Arua Municipality MP Ibrahim Abiriga was murdered in the same way -- assassins shot dead the legislator and his brother on their way home in Kawanda, Wakiso district.

Last year, Assistant Inspector General of Police Andrew Felix Kaweesi was also killed by gunmen moments after leaving his home in Kampala. His bodyguard and driver were also snuffed out.

Other prominent people, including senior principal state attorney, Joan Kagezi, were also slain in similar fashion.

In a statement, Police spokesperson Emilian Kayima said Kirumira and his wife were pronounced dead upon arrival at hospital.

"The Uganda Police Force is greatly concerned with the assassination of ASP Muhammad Kirumira at Bulenga near his home at around 9:00pm.

"He was with a lady resident confirmed to be his wife. She too succumbed to bullet wounds and was pronounced dead on arrival at Rubaga Hospital this evening, September 8, 2018," he said.

"He was driving his personal vehicle, which is still at the scene of crime at Bulenga. We condemn these heinous criminal acts and promise to hunt down these merciless criminals and bring them to book. May they rest in peace," added Kayima.