Dr. Flavian Zeija, the Principal Judge of Uganda, was allegedly attacked by gunmen around 8:30 pm on April 23rd, 2022 in Buwama village, Mpigi district.
On April 23rd, 2022 at around 8:30 pm, His Lordship Dr Flavian Zeija, the Principal Judge of Uganda, was allegedly attacked by suspected gunmen in the Kalandezi village, Buwama in Mpigi district.
According to Jamson Karemani the judiciary PRO, gunmen shot at the principal judge’s convoy on Saturday evening at around 7:00 pm but said he (the Judge) and his entire team escaped with no injuries.
However, the police have come out to respond to the incident. In a statement dated April 25th, Fred Enanga the police spokesperson said a composite tactical team from Counter-Terrorism, CMI, Forensics, Crime Intelligence, ISO and operations, has since visited the scene and condoned it off, for a thorough assessment.
Enanga said preliminary findings indicated the attack on the convoy, was instead a result of an improvised explosive device, planted on the roadside, below the guard rail, at a remote location, in Kalandezi village.
“The task team recovered a variety of IED components that included; shattered detonator parts, pieces of wire, cut pieces of iron bars, shattered aluminum pieces, and metal fragments, all designed to increase the amount of shrapnel propelled by the explosive device,” Enanga said.
“There were no bullets or cartridges at the scene. We are grateful that the principal judge and his team were not injured. The vehicle of the principal judge and the lead car, had minor damages from the impact of the metallic fragments.”
Enanga however, indicated that this is the second time such an incident has occurred where IEDs are planted on the roadside to either damage vehicles, along the road and incapacitate, injure or kill motorists.
“The first incident occurred, on the 17.04.2022, at around 9:30pm, when Busasira Alex, while driving in the company of his wife, from Kampala to Kabale in a motor vehicle, registration number, UBJ399A, was hit by an IED, which was detonated and metallic shrapnel damaged his vehicle, along the Masaka-Kinoni section at Kyangoma LCI, Nkoni Parish, Kingo Sub-county, Lwengo district.”
“Their vehicle was perforated by metallic pieces, some of which were picked from the body of the motor vehicle. The victims did not stop, despite the tyre burst and drove miles ahead. The following morning, our task teams, recovered metallic fragments scattered around the scene,” Enanga added.
He, however, condemned the cowardly attack but raised the police tactical teams are now aware of this new kind of threat on our roads, targeting motorists.
He mentioned although, there is no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, the nature of the attack, roadside explosives and the timing in both incidents are similar.
Enanga however, noted that there is no evidence at this stage, to show that the Principal Judge’s vehicle, was the intended target or a random incident of attack on any government vehicle.
“We are going to ensure the perpetrators of this senseless attack who are trying to use violence to undermine the safety and security of motorists, are identified and brought to book. We wish to further remind all members of the public, that a threat environment still exists in the country, which calls for vigilance.”
“We have criminal elements who have perfected the construction and use of IED’s capable of destroying vehicles, facilities and injuring or fatally wounding victims,” Enanga mentioned.
