By Spy Uganda
Kisasi, Kampala: Edward Katumba Wamala, more commonly known as Katumba Wamala, is a Ugandan general who has been serving as Minister of Works and Transport in the Ugandan cabinet, since 14 December 2019.
Before that, from 17 January 2017 until 14 December 2019, he served as Minister of State for Works in the Ugandan cabinet.
He previously served as the chief of defense forces of Uganda, the highest military rank in the Uganda People’s Defense Force (UPDF), from 2013 until 2017. He was the commander of land forces in the UPDF 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.
Background
He was appointed IGP in 2001, serving in that capacity until 2005. He was then promoted to lieutenant general and given the title of commander of land forces, based at Bombo Military Barracks, making him one of the highest senior officers in the Ugandan military.
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.
On 23 May 2013, he was promoted to the rank of four-star general and appointed chief of defence forces.
Wamala survived an assassination attempt near his home today 1st June 2021. His driver and daughter were reported dead in the aftermath of the attack.
