1. He tactifully refused to be directly involved in overseeing the notorious Operation Wembley.
2. His close association with city residents for his strategic community policing scheme made Museveni to suspect that Wamala was building a personal political base.
No wonder, he was recalled to the army and replaced by Gen. Kalekyezi whose sole role was to privatise the police. When Wamala was finally appointed the army's Commander of the Land Forces in 2005, he adopted an empty shell army whose vital and strategic units were under an autonomous command headed by Museveni's son. The situation remained the same when he ascended to the position of Army Chief in 2013. His trouble came when he disassociated himself from the November 2016 cold-blooded killing of over 100 Bakonjo people in Kasese by the army. The operation had been overseen by Museveni and spearheaded by the SFC and the 2nd Division Commander, Brig. Peter Elwelu. As had been the case with the 2001 Operation Wembley, Museveni was concerned again and troubled by Gen. Katumba's stand. Two months later, in January 2017, he was sacked and instead appointed a junior Works Minister. This was an outright demotion that came with loss of such privileges like enhanced personal security like armoured car, huge security detail, lead car, a fully fledged military radio communication etc.
However, during Museveni's Age Limit Bill, Wamala demonstrated his total loyalty when he boxed an opposition MP on the floor of parliament in November 2018. When the then Arua County M.P threatened him with dire consequencea in the event of regime change for having boxed Zaake, he responded thus;
"My home is Plot. 11 Mugogo Channel and I have no guards. If he wants to use the Kawesi style my vehicle number is UG 162W. He doesn't have to wait for regime change."
Indeed, on June 1, 2021, assailants ambushed
him in the city killing his daughter and driver instantly and leaving him badly injured. In recognition of his demonstrated loyalty, in 2019 Museveni elevated Wamala to the position of full Minister of Works and Transport. This is the sector that serves as the regime's cash cow owing to the huge cash involved. As is the practice, a more regime insider, Joy Kabatsi was appointed as his deputy. His tenure came at a time the regime was reviving the Uganda Airlines, railway and roads in Congo. Just last month, he sent on forced leave seven topmost Managers of Uganda Airlines following an audit report that indicated a Shillings102b losses. The said top management had been secretly reporting to Museveni's brother Gen. Saleh who in turn used the junior Minister Joy Kabatsi to suspend the Board Members a few days later. The incorruptible Katumba Wamala had before being sacked from the army clashed with another powerful regime insider, Rosette Byengoma who is the permanent Secretary for Ministry Defence over her protection of individuals involved in a Shillings 2b ghost Russian Pilot scam. The matter was swept under the carpet.
For those who have been wondering how a whole Four Star General could move without adequate personal security, you now know. He is lucky to have had those two army Sergeants; his counterparts like Gen. Tumukunde, Gen. Muntu, Gen. Besigye, Gen. Ssejusa and others have none. As to the motive and identity of the highly skilled assailants, that's the work of paid investigators. But for now, we only need to know if he was to retain his Works and Transport docket in the impending new cabinet lineup. What is also clear is that among all the top commanders of Museveni's Congo expedition, it's only him, Gen. Otafiire and Gen. Angina who are still alive. Gen. Kazini, Col. Semakula, Brig. Mayombo, Col. Kerim, Col. Muzoora, James Wapakhabulo and others have died but the case still hangs on in international courts.
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