{{short description|Ugandan politician}} {{EngvarB|date=September 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}} {{Infobox military person | honorific_prefix = | name = Katumba Wamala | honorific_suffix = | image = Wamala Edward Katumba.jpg | image_upright = | alt = | caption = | native_name = | native_name_lang = | birth_name = Edward Katumba Wamala | other_name = | nickname = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1956|11|19|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Kalangala District]], [[British Uganda]] | disappeared_date = | disappeared_place = | death_date = <!--{{death date and age|dYYYY|dMM|dDD|YYYY|MM|DD}}--> | death_place = | death_cause = | burial_place = | burial_label = | burial_coordinates = <!--{{coord|LAT|LONG|display=inline,title}}--> | allegiance = {{flagicon|Uganda}} [[Uganda National Liberation Army|UNLA]]<br>(1980–1986)<br>{{flag|Uganda}}<br>(1986–present) | branch = {{army|Uganda}} | branch_label = <!--"Branch" or "Service"--> | service_years = 1980–present | service_years_label = | rank = [[General officer|General]] | rank_label = | service_number = | unit = | commands = | known_for = | battles = {{tree list}} * [[Ugandan Bush War]] * [[War in Uganda (1986–1994)]] * [[Lord's Resistance Army insurgency]] * [[South Sudanese Civil War]] {{tree list/end}} | battles_label = | awards = | memorials = | alma_mater = [[Nkumba University]]<br/>{{small|([[Bachelor of Arts]] in international relations & diplomacy)}}<br/>[[Uganda Military Academy]]<br/>{{small|(Basic Officers Course)}}<br/>[[Tanzania Military Academy]]<br>{{small|(Junior Staff College)}}<br/> [[Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji|Nigerian Command and Staff College]]<br/>{{small|(Senior Staff College)}}<br/>[[US Army Command and General Staff College]]<br/>{{small|([[Strategic studies]] course)}} | spouse = <!--{{marriage|name|start date|end date}}; add spouse if reliably sourced--> | children = | relations = | other_work = | signature = | signature_size = | signature_alt = | website = <!--{{URL|example.com}}--> | module = }}
'''Edward Katumba Wamala''' (born 19 November 1956), commonly known as '''Katumba Wamala''', is a [[Ugandan]] [[military officer]] and [[politician]] who serves as [[Ministry of Works and Transport (Uganda)|Minister of Works and Transport]] in the [[Cabinet of Uganda|Ugandan cabinet]], since 14 December 2019.<ref name="1R">{{cite web|newspaper=[[Daily Monitor]] | url=https://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Museveni-shuffles-Cabinet-drops-Muloni-Nadduli-Ssekandi/688334-5386130-139sq4lz/index.html |title=Museveni Shuffles Cabinet, Drops Muloni, Appoints Magyezi |date=14 December 2019 |access-date=15 December 2019 |author=Monitor Reporter |place=Kampala}}</ref>
Prior to his current position, from 17 January 2017 until 14 December 2019, he served as [[Minister of State for Work|Minister of State for Works]] in the [[Ugandan]] cabinet.<ref>{{cite web |newspaper=[[New Vision]] |date=10 January 2017 | url=http://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1443700/muhoozi-replaces-katumba-cdf |title=Muhoozi Replaces Katumba As Army Chief |author=Taddeo Bwambale |access-date=10 June 2017 | location=Kampala}}</ref> He also served as the chief of staff of the [[Uganda People's Defense Force]] (UPDF), from 2013 until 2017, and was the [[commander]] of the UPDF's ground forces from 2005 to 2013. He also served as the [[inspector general of police]] (IGP) of the [[Uganda Police Force]] (UPF), the highest rank in that branch of [[Uganda]]'s [[government]], from 2001 until 2005. Wamala was the first active UPDF soldier to serve as the head of the UPF. On 1 June 2021, Katumba survived an [[assassination]] attempt in [[Kisaasi]], a [[Kampala]] suburb when gunmen attacked and wounded the General, killing his daughter and driver, leaving him with [[gunshot]] [[Wound|wounds]] on both shoulders.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Katumba Wamala shooting: Uganda minister's daughter killed|url=https://news.yahoo.com/katumba-wamala-uganda-mp-shot-095221152.html|access-date=2021-06-07|website=news.yahoo.com|language=en-US}}</ref>
==Early life and education== Katumba Wamala was born on 19 November 1956 in Bweeza, [[Kalangala District]], [[Ssese Islands]], in the [[Central Region, Uganda|Buganda Region]] of Uganda.<ref>{{cite web |last=Candia |first=Steven |date=31 October 2005 |title=Police Will Miss Katumba Wamala |url=http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/459/463676 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151223092033/http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/459/463676 |archive-date=23 December 2015 |accessdate=12 May 2014 |publisher=[[New Vision]]}}</ref>
He holds a certificate in agriculture. In 2007, he graduated from [[Nkumba University]] with a [[Bachelor of Arts]] degree in international relations and diplomacy. He also holds a [[Master of Science]] degree in strategic leadership from the [[United States Army War College]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://specialforcescommand.go.ug/the-chief-of-defence-forces-gen-edward-katumba-wamala |title=The Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala |work=specialforcescommand.go.ug | access-date=22 December 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190322180358/http://specialforcescommand.go.ug/the-chief-of-defence-forces-gen-edward-katumba-wamala/ | archive-date=22 March 2019 | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Uganda: General Katumba Gets First Class Degree | url=http://allafrica.com/stories/200704230693.html | publisher=[[New Vision]] via [[AllAfrica.com]] | date=22 April 2007 | first=Madinah| last=Tebajjukira | accessdate=12 May 2014}}</ref> He has military qualifications from the following military schools:<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/459/463676 | title=The Military Education of Katumba Wamala | first=Steven | last=Candia | date=31 October 2005 | publisher=[[New Vision]] | accessdate=12 May 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151223092033/http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/459/463676 | archive-date=23 December 2015 | url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Uganda Military Academy]], [[Tanzania Military Academy]], a military academy in the [[Soviet Union]], [[Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji|Nigerian Command and Staff College]], [[United States Army Command and General Staff College]], and [[United States Army War College]]. In October 2023, he was awarded an honorary [[Doctor of Letters]] by [[Nkumba University]] in recognition of his contributions to his community, country and humanity.<ref>{{cite web| work=Nile Post Uganda | url=https://nilepost.co.ug/2023/10/26/gen-katumba-wamala-awarded-honorary-doctorate/ |title=Gen Katumba Wamala awarded honorary doctorate |date=26 October 2023 |author=Samuel Muhimba |access-date=26 October 2023 |location=Kampala, Uganda}}</ref>
==Career== [[File:Commander of UPDF Land Forces Lieutenant General Edward Katumba Wamala in Mogadishu (6165039501).jpg|alt=General Edward Katumba Wamala|thumb|General Edward Katumba Wamala]] [[File:Commander of UPDF Land Forces Lieutenant General Edward Katumba Wamala in Mogadishu (6165027801).jpg|thumb|Commander of UPDF Land Forces Lieutenant General Edward Katumba Wamala in Mogadishu]] Wamala was an [[officer]] in the [[Uganda National Liberation Army]] (UNLA) when the [[National Resistance Army]] (NRA) defeated the [[Uganda National Liberation Front|UNLA]] in 1986. He transitioned into the NRA without incident.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/26/454351 | title=Rebels Turned UPDF Commanders | date=5 September 2005 | first=Joshua | last=Kato | newspaper=[[New Vision]] | access-date=12 May 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150623073507/http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/26/454351 | archive-date=23 June 2015 | url-status=dead }}</ref>
Between 1999 and 2000, he was a student at the [[U.S. Army War College]] in [[Carlisle]], [[Pennsylvania]]. Between 2000 and 2001, at the rank of [[major general]], he commanded the UPDF forces in the [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]]. He was appointed IGP in 2001, serving in that capacity until 2005.
In August 2003, Katumba attended the [[Ugandan North American Association (UNAA)]] convention in Boston, Massachusetts.<ref>{{cite web |title=Uganda: N. American Ugandans Meet |publisher=New Vision (Kampala) |date=2003-09-02 |url=https://allafrica.com/stories/200309021052.html |access-date=2026-02-18}}</ref>
He was then promoted to [[lieutenant general]] and given the title of commander of land forces, based at [[Bombo, Uganda|Bombo]] Military [[Barracks]], making him one of the most senior officers in the [[Ugandan]] military.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/12/464172 | title=Major General Kale Kaihura Takes Over Police Force | newspaper=[[New Vision]] | date=3 November 2005 | access-date=12 May 2014 | first=Steven | last=Candia | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150623073214/http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/12/464172 | archive-date=23 June 2015 | url-status=dead }}</ref> In his role as commander of the land forces, he was closely engaged in the peace-keeping mission that the UPDF performs in [[Somalia]], commonly referred to as [[AMISOM]].<ref>{{cite web |publisher=[[New Vision]] |url=http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/13/710123 |title=Over 1,700 UPDF Soldiers for Somalia |date=14 February 2010 |access-date=12 May 2014 |author=Ayiga Ondoga |place=Kampala |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150623081233/http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/13/710123 |archive-date=23 June 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> On 23 May 2013, he was promoted to the rank of four-star [[General officer|general]] and appointed chief of defence forces.<ref>{{cite web |newspaper=[[Daily Monitor]] |url=http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Gen--Katumba-Wamala-to-head-the-Uganda-army/-/688334/1861660/-/tmwm0bz/-/index.htmlb |title=General Katumba Wamala To Head The Uganda Army |author=John Tugume |access-date=12 May 2014 |date=24 May 2013 |place=Kampala |archive-date=13 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170113133849/http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Gen--Katumba-Wamala-to-head-the-Uganda-army/-/688334/1861660/-/tmwm0bz/-/index.htmlb |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Assassination attempt== On 1 June 2021, General Katumba Wamala was travelling to the city centre when four gunmen appeared and opened fire on his vehicle near his home, in [[Kisaasi]], a [[Kampala]] suburb. Wamala suffered gunshot wounds to both shoulders, but survived and was rushed to hospital. His driver, Haruna Kayondo, and daughter, Brenda Wamala Nantongo, were killed at the scene of the attack. All of the surviving family members attended the funeral of Brenda Wamala Nantongo.<ref>{{cite web |work=ChimpReports |date=1 June 2021 |author=Sam Waswa | url=https://chimpreports.com/gen-katumba-wamala-attacked-by-gun-men-driver-reported-dead/ |title=General Katumba Wamala Attacked by Gunmen; Daughter Reported Dead |access-date=1 June 2021 | location=Kampala, Uganda}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| date=1 June 2021 | title=Assassination attempt on Ugandan minister kills 2 | url=https://www.dw.com/en/assassination-attempt-on-ugandan-minister-kills-2/a-57736189 |access-date=1 June 2021 |work=[[Deutsche Welle]] }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=1 June 2021|title=Katumba Wamala: Uganda minister shot in assassination attempt |work=[[BBC News]]|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-57315083|access-date=June 1, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=1 June 2021 |title=Assassination attempt on Ugandan minister kills daughter and driver |work=[[The Guardian]] | url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jun/01/ugandan-minister-hurt-in-assassination-bid-that-killed-his-daughter |access-date=1 June 2021}}</ref> After a month of investigation, on 1 July 2021, authorities revealed that the attackers were [[Islamic extremism|Islamist extremists]] who were trained at a [[jihadism|jihadist]] camp in [[North Kivu]], [[Democratic Republic of Congo]], and had links with the [[Allied Democratic Forces]] and the [[Islamic State]].<ref>{{cite news |work=Reuters |date=1 July 2021 | url=https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/uganda-links-islamist-rebels-attempted-murder-minister-2021-07-01/|title=Uganda links Islamist rebels to attempted murder of minister}}</ref>
The [[President of Uganda]], [[Yoweri Museveni]], condemned the attack, describing it as the work of "pigs who do not value life".<ref>{{Cite news| date=June 1, 2021|title=Gunmen kill Uganda minister's daughter in failed assassination attempt |work=[[The Irish Times]] |access-date=1 June 2021 |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/africa/gunmen-kill-uganda-minister-s-daughter-in-failed-assassination-attempt-1.4581123}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category}} * [http://www.parliament.go.ug/mp_database/profile.php?mid=179 General Katumba Wamala's Page At Parliament.go.ug] * [http://www.google.com/search?q=katumba+wamala&bav=on.2,or.r_qf.&bvm=bv.47008514,d.ZWU&biw=1093&bih=431&wrapid=tlif136958939673410&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=qUaiUamQIsKLhQenpYHoDA#facrc=_&imgrc=fxbDKFBWvBBReM%3A%3BNcUy5YNzw-VGtM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fdanwaanews.com%252Fwp-content%252Fuploads%252F2013%252F01%252FLt%252BGen%252BEdward%252Bkatumba%252BWamala%252BCommander%252BLand%252BForces.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fdanwaanews.com%252F%253Fp%253D6351%3B1000%3B967 Images of General Katumba Wamala At Google.com]
{{Authority control}}
{{s-start}} {{s-civ|pol}} {{s-bef | before = John Kisembo }} {{s-ttl | title = Inspector General of Police of [[Uganda Police Force]] | years = 2003–2005 }} {{s-aft | after = [[Kale Kayihura]] }}
{{s-mil}} {{s-bef | before = [[Aronda Nyakairima]] }} {{s-ttl | title = [[Uganda People's Defence Force|Chief of Defense Forces of Uganda]] | years = 2013 – 2017 }} {{s-aft | after = [[David Muhoozi]] }}
{{s-civ}} {{s-bef | before = [[Monica Azuba Ntege]] }} {{S-ttl | title = [[Ministry of Works and Transport (Uganda)|Minister of Works and Transport]] | years = December 2019 - present }} {{end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wamala, Katumba}} [[Category:1956 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:People from Kalangala District]] [[Category:Ganda people]] [[Category:Ugandan police chiefs]] [[Category:Uganda Military Academy alumni]] [[Category:United States Army Command and General Staff College alumni]] [[Category:Non-U.S. alumni of the Command and General Staff College]] [[Category:United States Army War College alumni]] [[Category:Nkumba University alumni]] [[Category:Tanzania Military Academy alumni]] [[Category:Government ministers of Uganda]] [[Category:Members of the 9th Parliament of Uganda]] [[Category:Ugandan generals]] [[Category:Ugandan victims of crime]] [[Category:Public works ministers of Uganda]] [[Category:Transport ministers of Uganda]] [[Category:Members of the 10th Parliament of Uganda]]