Kampala, (UG): Renowned city pastor and businessman, Aloysius Bugingo has opened up for the first since being discharged from Mulago Hospital where he was rushed for treatment on Tuesday night after a shooting incident which claimed the life of his personal bodyguard and driver identified as Richard Muhumuza.
Bugingo, the proprietor of House of Prayer Ministries International and Salt Media Group of Companies which owns both Salt TV and Salt FM was headed to his home in Namayumba, Wakiso district when the assailants sprayed bullets on his car at around 9pm.
Although no arrests have been made, police earlier today released a statement saying an active manhunt for the killers is underway as investigations take course into the incident.
Now speaking from his home on Wednesday evening, Bugingo, an ardent supporter of the ruling NRM government said he is alive because God gave him another chance but asked the community to pray for his driver who was immediately called by the Lord.
“Praise God, dear brethren, I am alive and thanks for your prayers. I request you to continue praying for our church elder, Richard Muhumuza who was immediately called by the Lord.” Bugingo remarked, clad in his checkered, short-sleeved shirt.
One of the bullets which took his bodyguard, Richard Muhumuza’s life in the 9pm shooting grazed him around the left shoulder. His injuries were slight, but he was still shaken from the traumatic experience.
The shooter(s) rode up to the vehicle from the left-hand side before unleashing a hail of gunfire. Ordinarily, Pastor Bugingo would have probably been perched in the passenger seat on that side of the vehicle, however, on Tuesday night he was at the wheel on the right-hand side.
“Satan wanted me dead but God kept me alive because I have not finished my responsibilities. God ashamed the devil. I will not blame anyone, I will not say that so and so wanted to kill me, but what I will conclude is that Satan wanted me dead but God shamed the devil.
“I am blessed that I see many people here when I am still alive….I pray for all of you in 2024 … we request all those with similar hearts to stop because I am not the first person to be shot at because others like [Works] minister, Gen Katumba Wamala survived and I am the second to survive,” he said.
Bugingo adds that for him he managed to survive and went for treatment at Mulago hospital where he was treated very well.
“They [Mulago] have also sent me some medical personnel who have given me more treatment, the situation now is not worrying but God has given me a second chance,” he added
Kampala Metropolitan Deputy spokesperson, Mr Luke Owoyesigire said in a police statement that the assailant(s) escaped on a motorcycle after the shooting, similar to the previous assassination incidents involving high-profile individuals and clerics in the country.
Multiple eyewitnesses who say they were present at the scene gave a brief description of what they remember happening.
“…when the shooter started firing bullets, the pastor ducked under the steering wheel, and that is how he survived…….,” an individual who claims to have witnessed the incident told journalists earlier in the day.
It is not clear what his intention was, but other people who were in the area said the pastor drove down the same road the shooter, who appeared to be riding alone, had taken.
Some may say this was a miracle the high-profile pastor emerged almost unscathed, with Kampala Metropolitan Police deputy spokesman Luke Owoyesigire revealing that at least 17 bullets went through the vehicle.
It was not immediately clear last night how many of the projectiles struck Muhumuza as pathologists at Mulago Hospital said the President was still being briefed before the postmortem report could be released.
Upon hearing about her husband’s near-death experience, Pastor Bugingo’s wife, Ms Susan Makula was so shocked she collapsed. She was reported to recovering at home by Wednesday evening.
Police said Wednesday it was examining CCTV footage and piecing together evidence using eyewitness accounts.
“Statements from eyewitnesses have been diligently recorded, and the deceased’s body has been conveyed to the City Mortuary at Mulago for a thorough postmortem examination. In our active pursuit of justice, we are thoroughly reviewing CCTV footage to identify the assailants. Updates will be provided as additional information becomes available,” Owoyesigyire’s statement read.
Bugingo revealed that his slain bodyguard Muhumuza will be laid to rest at his ancestral home in Sembabule District on Friday this week.
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