Kirumira’s last public statement

Hours before he was shot dead near his home in Bulenga, Wakiso District, the former Buyende DPC Muhammad Kirumira sent a congratulatory message to Ugandan journalists who had just concluded election of their leaders.

Uganda Journalists Association (UJA) on Saturday held elections in which Bashir Mbazira was elected chairman.

In a Whatsapp message that went viral minutes after his shooting, Kirumira was heard congratulating journalists and urging them to remain untited in their struggle.

He also decried the poor remuneration of journalists saying there was a need to have a standardized minimum payment for all the journalists in the country.

“My brothers and sisters of the media fraternity, I congratulate you for the democracy you exhibited when electing your leaders. I congratulate those who won and those who lost. Reconiciation and unity is key. You journalists still have challenges. You need to be united since some of you work for different organisations and personalities. Some of you are spies but all the same you need one voice to represent you. I’m Kirumira, a police officer and your friend in the struggle like you,” reads part of the message.

Police said Kirumira and his wife were driving in a family car when they were attacked near  their home in Bulenga, Wakiso District. The attackers were riding on a boda boda.

Mr Kirumira was killed in the manner in which his mentor and former police spokesperson, Andrew Felix Kaweesi was killed.

Kaweesi, his bodyguard and driver were shot dead  on March 17, 2017 near his home in Kulambiro, Kampala.