Police has released fresh details surrounding the fatal shooting of Abdul Kimera, a 52-year-old businessman affiliated with the Uganda Taxi Operators Federation (UTOF), who was gunned down by unidentified assailants as he branched off towards his home in Buloba, Wakiso District.
Two gunmen riding on a motorcycle trailed Kimera and his wife as they travelled from Kampala before launching a deadly attack around midnight on Saturday, November 14, 2026.
According to preliminary findings by the Uganda Police Force, the couple were travelling in a black Toyota Ipsum, registration number UA 533ED, when the assailants followed them towards their residence in Buloba Bunwa Village.
The attackers reportedly waited until Kimera turned off the main road towards his home before executing the ambush.
One of the gunmen, who was dressed in a hooded jacket and armed with a rifle, reportedly approached the vehicle and opened fire at close range.
The shooting left Kimera dead at the scene, while his wife sustained a gunshot wound. In the confusion following the attack, the vehicle reportedly lost control and plunged into a nearby trench.
In a chilling detail emerging from the police account, the assailants allegedly walked towards the wrecked vehicle after shooting the couple to establish whether Kimera had died before escaping on their motorcycle.
Police have since indicated that the circumstances surrounding the attack point towards a possible targeted killing rather than an ordinary robbery.
Kampala Metropolitan Police Deputy Spokesperson ASP Luke Owoyesigyire said the attackers did not take any property or valuables from the victims, a detail investigators are considering as they pursue the case.
The absence of stolen property has raised questions about the motive behind the killing, with detectives seeking to establish whether Kimera had been followed deliberately and why he was targeted.
Wife rushed to hospital as police begin investigations
Kimera’s injured wife was rushed to a nearby medical facility for emergency treatment following the shooting.
His body was subsequently transferred to Mulago City Mortuary for a postmortem examination as part of the investigations.
Officers from Buloba Police Station and the Wakiso Division responded to the scene, which was cordoned off as police began collecting evidence and reconstructing the events leading to the shooting.
A sniffer dog was also deployed as investigators sought to establish possible leads that could help identify and apprehend the attackers.
Detectives have reportedly recorded statements from witnesses who may have information about the incident, including the movements of the couple and the motorcycle-riding suspects before and after the shooting.
The investigators are also expected to examine the circumstances under which the assailants followed the vehicle from Kampala and managed to launch the attack without being intercepted.
No arrests had been reported by the time of the latest updates, with police continuing efforts to track down the two suspects and establish the motive behind the killing.
Questions over motive
The shooting has raised concern over the safety of motorists travelling home late at night, particularly after the attackers reportedly followed the couple before striking at a point close to their residence.
The fact that the gunmen allegedly confirmed Kimera’s death before fleeing has also added to the suspicion that the attack was deliberately planned.
Investigators are expected to establish whether the businessman had received threats before the incident, whether he had any known disputes, or whether there were other circumstances that could explain the apparent targeting.
Kimera, 52, was affiliated with the Uganda Taxi Operators Federation, although police have not yet publicly established whether his association with the transport sector had any connection to the shooting.
About the Author
