Kabula County legislator Enos K Asiimwe narrowly survived death after an armed assassin raided his hotel room on the evening of March 14 at around 7pm at Court Yard Hotel in Lyantonde District.
The chilling details, pieced together from information shared with investigators, reveal how the National Resistance Movement (NRM) MP-elect came face to face with death but survived by a whisker.
According to investigators from the security apparatus, who are working tirelessly to track down the assailant who made away with the MP’s phone, Hon. Enos, a regular at the hotel was relaxing on that fateful evening.
It is believed the assassin, unknown to him, had booked an adjacent room on the same floor.
Investigators have further established that while the MP was outside his room, he suddenly saw a man armed with an AK-47 rifle emerging from the neighboring room and aiming at him.
Hon. Enos, described as young and physically fit, reacted instantly.
He immediately somersaulted into his room and locked the door, frantically trying to locate his phone so he could call for help.
However, the attacker was hell-bent on taking his life.
The motive behind the attempted assassination remains unknown, as the suspect is still at large.
According to information the MP shared with investigators, the assailant used the gun to hammer the door locks and eventually forced his way into the room.
Sensing imminent danger, Enos alias Kinywamachunda used the window at the back of the room and jumped from the second floor. He landed on the ground and broke his leg due to the height.
But the danger was far from over.
The determined attacker also jumped down and landed where the MP was.
In what investigators believe shows a level of training, the assailant landed without injury and immediately pointed the gun at the legislator, who at that point was trembling and saying his last prayer.
“He cocked the gun and pulled the trigger,” investigators heard. But the gun jammed and failed to fire.
The attacker cocked it again and pulled the trigger, but the spring shattered, rendering the weapon useless.
At that moment, the MP believed his life had come to an end.
Investigators suspect the gun malfunctioned because it had earlier been used to break down the door.
Realizing the weapon could no longer fire, and as the MP raised an alarm, the attacker grabbed the MP’s phone and fled the scene.
Investigations into the incident are ongoing as Hon. Asiimwe continues to receive treatment at International Hospital Kampala.
His survival has largely been attributed to his physical fitness and quick reflexes. Had he not somersaulted into the room and later jumped out of the window, the Electoral Commission could by now be preparing for a by-election in Kabula County.
