In eye of the storm: Who is Matthew Kanyamunyu?

KAMPALA: His has become an instant household name in the country since last Saturday when he was thrust in the spotlight as the prime suspect in the fatal shooting of Kenneth Akena, a community development officer working in Kasese District
Yet police investigations are yet to pin him directly to the crime, basing on the last account of Akena’s dying declaration in the hospital.

The deceased reportedly told his brother in the presence of others at his death bed that Kanyamunyu shot him that evening after he (Akena) got out of his car to apologise for his car having brushed Mr Kanyamuny’s car at Lugogo, Kampala. The exact spot is still subject of wild speculation.
A Saturday Monitor investigation can reveal that the son of a member of the Ankole royal family is known among friends as a very reserved person who is selective with friends.

“He likes himself and will only open up to people known to him,” said a long-time old boy and friend who has known him since the 1980s.
Kanyamunyu, 38, is the second last born in a family of five siblings – all male.
His siblings are Michael, who is in the Special Forces Command that guards President Museveni, Joseph who is a public relations and communications expert, and Moses. His other brother Joel, passed away last month. Their father died in the 1970s at 42. Their mother also passed on years ago.

“In school, Matthew was always a good, normal person,” a friend told this newspaper. “His only shortcoming is a notoriously short fuse [anger],” he added.
He said: “When his wires go loose, you don’t want to cross his path.”
Kanyamunyu attended Bweranyangi Junior School where he completed his Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) in 1992, from where he joined Kings College Budo for O-Level, and later Ntare School for his A-Level education.
He enrolled at Makerere for a Bachelors’ Degree in Logistics Management, Logistics and Procurement.

“I recall that in his P.6, he once beat up a teacher and then vanished. He was that sort of person,” the friend said.
Those who know Kanyamunyu describe him as an affable, amiable and amicable character, with a sharp sense of dressing, exotic side of life, and yes, a short temper; he loves being smart whether official or casual. Although not a teetotaler, he is a measured consumer of alcohol.
Kanyamunyu first worked at TNT Express, a Dutch–based international courier delivery service company, then later worked for SDV Transami, DHL Global Forwarding, and Fedex, before opting to start his own private logistics company in 2010, Quantum Express Logistics, based on Port Bell Road, Kampala.

Among his sport hobbies are taekwondo and soccer, which he liked while growing up as well as table tennis, which he played occasionally.
“He is also an ardent reader. And he likes to know what is happening around him both locally and internationally. He loves current affairs.”
Kanyamunyu is apparently known to prefer high-end places when hanging out such as Serena and Protea. He has two children from a previous relationship.
He is the nephew of Ms Winnie Byanyima, the executive director of Oxfam International.

Ms Byanyima, also wife to former presidential candidate, Dr Kizza Besigye, on Monday morning posted on her twitter handle, @Winnie_Byanyima saying: “My heart and prayers are with Akena’s family. Let justice be done. Matthew is my nephew. A tragedy for us too.”
At the time of the alleged crime, Kanyamunyu was in his car with his Burundian girlfriend, Ms Cynthia Munwangari. Both are currently in police custody to help with investigations.
Akena, a child protection specialist with ACODEV in Kasese District, was shot in the stomach at around 8pm on Saturday and later succumbed to the bullet wounds at Novik hospital. There have been contradictory accounts of the scene of crime.

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