Uganda's Head of State Mr Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and his Kenyan Counterpart Dr William Samoei Ruto have condemned in the strongest terms possible, the recent attempt on the life of former US President Donald Trump.
Museveni was the first to condemn the gun attack that resulted in the Republican Party presidential candidate being rushed to hospital after being injured by a bullet in the upper part of his right ear.
Authorities confirmed that one person was killed and two others left in critical condition after the incident on Saturday, July 13, 2024.
"I condemn this despicable and cowardly assassination attempt that put his life and that of his supporters at risk. Such political violence undermines democracy " Museveni said in a social media post 3 days after the shooting.
He also extended his condolences to the family that lost a loved one and to those injured in the barrage of gunfire.
"I wish His Excellency and all those injured a speedy recovery. Our thoughts and prayers are with them," Museveni added.
Similarly, Kenya's Ruto termed Saturday's incident as "a shocking and heinous act".
"In these troubling times, I take this opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to the democratic ideals we share with the people of the United States of America. I wish Donald Trump a speedy and full recovery," he stated, while also extending sympathies to the other victims of the incident."
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has since identified Trump's attacker as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks.
Crooks, who was taken down by Secret Service agents, was a resident of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, about 35 miles south of Butler, where Trump was holding his rally.
The young man shot at Trump from the roof of a shed outside the security cordon around the rally shortly after the former US president had started speaking.
At the time of the attack, the FBI stated that Crooks was not carrying any identification and had to be identified using DNA samples.
The 20-year-old worked as a dietary aide at Bethel Park Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. His job mainly entailed working alongside dietitians, dietary managers, and chefs to help prepare food for the nursing home.
Marcie Grimm, the administrator of the nursing home, said she was 'shocked and saddened to learn of his involvement.'
Grimm mentioned that Crooks had no previous criminal record when he was hired.
Law enforcement officers said that the Crooks had requested an off from work on Saturday and had reportedly told colleagues that he had 'something to do,' and he would be back at Sunday.
Background checks on Crooks revealed that he was a registered Republican voter. However, on January 20, 2021â€"two weeks after pro-Trump alt-right supporters stormed the White Houseâ€"Crooks donated $15 to a grassroots Democratic group.
This year's presidential election would have been his first voting.
President Joe Biden, who is seeking a second term in the forthcoming polls, has since also condemned the attack, stating that he was grateful Trump was 'safe and doing well.'
'Jill and I are grateful to the Secret Service for getting him to safety. There's no place for this kind of violence in America. We must unite as one nation to condemn it,' Biden said in a statement.
Trump is running for a second, non-consecutive term in the November 5, 2024, general election after losing to Biden in the 2020 edition.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/ruto-museveni-condemn-trump-assassination-attempt
