Engineer Frank Kitumba, the former ICT Director at Makerere University, is nursing serious injuries following a brutal attack on Tuesday night within the university campus.
The attack happened around midnight, just an hour after Kitumba had returned from visiting his two-year-old child at Wandegeya Medical Chambers, where the child was being treated for malaria and other illnesses.
Kitumba, who is struggling to speak in a low tone due to lack of energy and injuries sustained, is currently unable to see as his eyes are swollen and closed.
Despite his condition, he managed to recount the events of the attack, breaking down in tears as he spoke.
According to Kitumba, a FUSO truck with no number plates, carrying approximately 30 people, forced its way into his compound.
The attackers, who did not wear masks, beat and dragged Kitumba, leaving him with severe head injuries and bloodstains on his black T-shirt.
Kitumba said the assailants searched for money in the house, stole his phones, laptops, and other valuables, and took all the phones belonging to his family members, leaving them without any means of communication.
The attackers further packed household items, including fridges, gas cookers, and other personal belongings.
In a shocking turn of events, the attackers wore Kitumba’s suits as they left the scene with his stolen property.
A visit by our reporter to Kitumba’s home revealed a scene of destruction. Some items that were not stolen were deliberately destroyed, including beds that were cut, mattresses slashed, broken glass, and even house toilets vandalized.
Kitumba’s wife, who declined to be named due to fear and trauma, said the attackers called her by name and issued orders.
“They picked my car keys from the house and told me to go, open it, and put in what I think is most valuable to me,” she recounted. Kitumba said he sought help from his armed neighbors, but they refused to intervene.
He then ran to the Local Council One (LC1) Chairman, who responded quickly and confronted the attackers. The LC1 Chairman managed to strike the FUSO truck with a grazing stick as it was trying to leave.
One suspect, a turnboy named Henry Katabira, was arrested on the spot by the LC1 Chairman and is currently detained at Wandegeya Police Station.
Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson Patrick Onyango confirmed Katabira’s arrest, stating that police had preferred charges of aggravated robbery under reference SD 02/02/04/2025, and that investigations were ongoing.
The FUSO truck, registration number UAX 169Q, which transported Kitumba’s stolen property, was later impounded near Kajjansi Police Station with some of his belongings inside and has since been brought to Wandegeya Police Station. Kitumba is currently receiving treatment for his injuries.
Some Makerere University officials, fearing to be quoted, questioned how a FUSO truck could enter the university premises around midnight.
Sources allege that the truck was allowed inside on orders from “above,” though they did not specify who issued the directive.
Kitumba’s lawyers from GEM Advocates, led by Stanley Okecho, condemned the attack as an act of cowardice.
“How can you enter Makerere, through the main gate, and cause mayhem to a resident? These actions are acts of cowardice.
Consequences shall follow, regardless of kindred, to everyone involved no matter how long this shall take,” Okecho said.
The attack comes amid Kitumba’s long-running legal battles with Makerere University, which has been pushing for his eviction from university housing. In October 2024, Kitumba appealed to the Inspector General of Police for protection after receiving threats of eviction from Makerere Police and university management.
Kitumba, who served as ICT Director for seven years until April 2018, says the university has refused to pay his outstanding National Social Security Fund (NSSF) contributions, which have now accumulated to over UGX 200 million, including interest.
Trouble for Kitumba started after he was denied “science money” at the university. He was first hired on a five-year contract in December 2012, which was extended for three years and later for two months until April 30, 2018, without a performance appraisal.
His dispute escalated after the government in 2010 enhanced salaries for science teachers in all public universities by 30 percent, but the Directorate of ICT Support (DICTS) staff were left out. Kitumba and others petitioned the Public Service Ministry.
By 2011/2012, Makerere University had received UGX 7 billion for science staff, while other public universities received UGX 4 billion. After persistent complaints, the Public Service Ministry ruled in 2017 that ICT staff were scientists and should receive science pay.
Makerere eventually started enhancing DICTS staff salaries in 2017, but Kitumba never received his arrears and gratuity, even though the government had sent the money.
The university later terminated Kitumba’s contract, but he refused to vacate the university house, demanding his full payments. Kitumba filed a case before the Labor Office in Kawempe, which ruled in his favor. Makerere appealed to the Industrial Court and lost the case.
On July 16, 2021, Industrial Court Judges Ruhinda Ntengye and Linda Lillian Tumusiime Mugisha upheld the Labor Office ruling and ordered Makerere University to pay Kitumba UGX 31.8 million in gratuity and UGX 90.4 million in salary arrears for science pay.
Makerere paid these amounts but failed to clear Kitumba’s NSSF contributions, which have since grown to over UGX 200 million.
Story by URN
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