Police probe minister Nantaba assassination attempt
State Minister of Information and Communication Technology Idah Nantaba. FILE PHOTO
What you need to know:
- Police are still investigating attack.
- One suspected assailant was shot dead by police.
- The Kayunga lawmaker was not injured in the scuffle.
MUKONO. The police in Mukono District in central Uganda are hunting for suspected thugs who allegedly tried to attack state minister for ICT Idah Nantaba.
Mr Amos Lugoloobi the MP for Ntenjeru north who is also Ms Nantaba's elder brother, said she was driving herself in the official vehicle at around 11am at Ggavu village in Kasawo Sub County along the Kayunga-Mukono road when gunmen intercepted her.
She was returning to Kampala from Ndeeba village in Kayunga where she had spent the weekend.
"As she was approaching Ggavu trading centre, some strangers on a bodaboda stopped her and when she stopped, armed men with masked faces came from the bush and when she sensed danger she sped off," Mr Lugoloobi said.
Ms Nantaba was reportedly with her bodyguard attached to the Special Forces Command (SFC) when the incident occurred.
Mr Lugoloobi said the bodyguard did not fire at the suspected thugs as he feared that the minister could be caught in cross fire.
The Naggalama police DPC Ms Grace Nyangoma said the minister later drove to Naggalama police station where she reported the incident.
A sobbing Nantaba could not speak to the media by the time of filing this story as security blocked journalists from accessing her at the police station.
The bike on which the assassins were travelling on. Courtesy photo
"We are carrying out an operation now to hunt down these thugs and I will give you details later," Ms Nyangoma said earlier.
However, Kampala Metropolitan deputy Police Spokesperson, Luke Owoyesigire on Sunday afternoon said after the minister alerted police, security personnel started patrolling the area before they encountered gunmen who opened fire at them.
" The minister was suspicious of the men on the motorbike before she called the Nagalama Police station which alerted other stations. The Police then started patrolling and monitoring the surroundings before they encountered gunmen who opened fire which prompted the Police to fire back before killing one of the gunmen on spot," Owoyesigyire told NTV on phone.
Police are hunting for more suspects, according to Mr Owoyesigyire.
The gunmen were traveling on a motorbike REG NO UDL 822A.
Ms Nantaba while still state minister for lands claimed some people wanted to kill her for fighting land grabbers.
