KAMPALA — Police has offered a UGX 20m bounty on a one Sheikh Abu Ubaida Badir Diin Bukenya said to be the overall coordinator of domestic terror cells.
The Deputy Inspector General of Police, Gen Paul Lokech has asked the public to inform the authorities about the whereabouts of Sheikh Bukenya.
“The Joint Security Agencies have raised the reward for any information leading to the arrest of its Most Wanted Person, a one Sheikh ABU UBAIDA BADIR DIIN BUKENYA, the overall coordinator of domestic terror cells, in the country, from Ugx. 5m to Ugx. 20m, a statement by Police said Tuesday.
“We believe the reward will provide a significant incentive to anyone with credible information that will help lead to his arrest” the Police noted, adding that the information can be shared on Telephone contact numbers; 0716-160261, 0717-179622 and 0715- 411674″.
Bukenya now has a UGX 20 million bounty on his head from the previous UGX. 5m.
Lokech said security forces on Tuesday arrested the second suspected shooter in an assassination attempt on General Katumba Wamala in which his daughter Brenda Nantongo and driver Haruna Kayondo were killed.
He said a Wampa Huzaifa alias Kanaabe, 30, a former member of BODABODA 2010 was tracked down and arrested on the Tuesday July 12, from a hide-out in Kikomeko village, near Kalule Trading Centre, Nakatonya Parish, Nyimbwa Subcounty, in Luwero district.
“An immediate thorough search was conducted at his known premises, and the motorcycle Bajaj Boxer, red in colour registration number UEO 375D, that was used during the attack was recovered,” Lokech said, claiming that other relevant exhibits recovered include the hood that he used to cover his head, an assortment of jackets, gloves, warm suits, and another motorcycle, Bajaj red in colour, registration number UDH 888V that was used in the surveillance of their targets.
“I wish to add that during the interrogation, he admitted to participating in a series of planned and highly sophisticated murders and aggravated robberies within the country, that led to the murder of 14 persons, the attempted murder of 3 people and 3 major aggravated robberies”, Lokech said.
Early on June 1, masked gunmen on motorcycles intercepted Gen. Katumba as he travelled through Kisaasi, a suburb of the capital Kampala.
They sprayed his vehicle with bullets, killing his daughter and driver but aborted the attack when Gen. Katumba’s bodyguard shielded him and fired back.
The bodyguard was unhurt.
Katumba is a former head of military and a former chief of the police.
There have been several unsolved assassinations and mysterious deaths of high profile officials in in recent years that have fuelled speculation about perpetrators and their motivation.
Victims have involved a lawmaker, a senior police officer, a public prosecutor, senior Muslim leaders and others. Nearly all were committed by gunmen on motorcycles though in most cases charges have eventually been dropped by prosecutors or dismissed by judges for lack of evidence.
