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Police link Maj. Kiggundu's assassination to ADF rebels
Sylvia Namutebi aka Maama Fiina cries near where Maj. Kiggundu was killed.
Gunmen have have shot dead Sheik Maj. Mohammed Kiggundu, one of the former commanders of the rebel Allied Democratic Forces (ADF).
Maj. Kiggundu was killed at Masanafu, a Kampala suburb. His bodyguard, Sgt. Steven Mukasa was also shot dead. The two were driving to the city in a UPDF pick-up truck on Saturday at about 7:30 am.
According to the Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Paul Kangave, the assailants who were moving on a motorcycle followed them for some distance before shooting one of the car tyres forcing the truck to veer into a drainage trench.
Witnesses say, Maj. Kiggundu, the husband of Sylvia Namutebi aka Maama Fiina, the leader of traditional herbalists in Uganda, jumped out of the vehicle which made it easy for the killers to shoot him at close range.
In the ensuring chaos, his bodyguard was also shot dead before he could put up a fight. The attackers did not take his AK47 gun which dropped a few feet near the vehicle.
Maj. Kiggundu, who denounced armed rebellion with a group of ADF fighters, almost a decade ago, was integrated into the UPDF and promoted to the rank of Major in December 2007. He has been a preacher of Islam on Pearl FM, a Kampala-based radio.
Police has cordoned off the crime scene to pick vital materials that would be used in investigations.
Mr Andrew Kaweesi, the police spokesperson said they have no doubt that the ADF are behind the killing because of the identical assassination methods.
“This is the same tactic that was used in the past killings of Muslims leaders. We thought we had neutralised ADF elements but it seems we still need to do a lot of work,” Mr Kaweesi said.
According to Mr Kaweesi, Maj. Kiggundu was one of the clerics on a list of Muslim leaders being targeted by hit men.
The list included late Sheikh Mustafa Bayiga and Sheikh Hassan Kirya who were killed last year.
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Other reigning Muslim leaders on hit list include Sheikh Nuhu Muzaata, and Prince Kassim Nakibinge, the titular leader of Muslims, among others.
ADF leader Jamil Mukulu was last year arrested in Tanzania and brought to Uganda where he is facing murder, aggravated murder, treason, war crimes and crimes against humanity charges.
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Sheikh Kakomo revealed that similar threats have been sent to his wife through text messages and phone calls. This, he adds, has thrown the entire family into panic.
Maj. Kiggundu and Maama Fiina had just celebrated a year in marriage. They wedded in November last at Kibuli mosque. His body was by taken to Mulago Hospital for post-mortem and would be buried at Nkowe cemetery on Hoima Road.
