LYANTONDE, Uganda — Fresh details have emerged about the terrifying incident in which Enos K. Asiimwe, Kabula County MP-elect, narrowly survived a suspected assassination attempt at Court Yard Hotel in Lyantonde on Friday night.
According to eyewitness accounts and preliminary investigations, Asiimwe had just returned to the hotel late in the evening and was heading toward his room when he noticed a man emerging from a neighboring room, brandishing a firearm. Sensing immediate danger, Asiimwe locked himself inside his room.
“In a split second, the attacker forced the door open. I had no choice but to escape through the window,” Asiimwe told reporters, still visibly shaken.
In the ensuing chaos, both Asiimwe and the assailant fell from the hotel’s first floor. Asiimwe suffered a broken leg from the fall, while one of the bullets fired by the gunman struck his leg. Miraculously, he survived the ordeal. During the struggle, the assailant dropped his gun, and witnesses said he also snatched Asiimwe’s phone before fleeing the scene.
Emergency teams rushed the MP-elect to a private hospital in Kampala, where he is currently receiving treatment. Doctors have confirmed his condition is stable, and he is expected to recover fully.
Law enforcement responded immediately, deploying homicide detectives, uniformed officers, and K9 units to the hotel. DPC Lyantonde, SP Ayeta, confirmed that a case of aggravated robbery has been registered under CRB 133/2026, and police are reviewing CCTV footage and tracking the abandoned weapon to identify the suspect.
Friends and associates of Asiimwe expressed shock, describing him as “low-key and focused on work,” leaving many to question why someone would target him. Political observers have also raised concerns, citing the tense political climate across parts of the country.
Despite the attack, Asiimwe has vowed to remain committed to serving his constituency. “This will not stop me. I am grateful to be alive, and I trust the police will bring the culprit to justice,” he said.
Authorities have appealed to the public to provide any information that could help in identifying the gunman, emphasizing that the abandoned firearm and eyewitness accounts are crucial leads in the ongoing investigation.
