Police have revealed that six people have died, and 33 have sustained injuries in the Tuesday morning twin bombings that rocked Kampala city.
Speaking at a press conference in Naguru at the police headquarters, police spokesperson CP Fred Enanga, noted that they registered two separate deadly suicide attacks, within, Kampala City, on Tuesday, at around 10.03am and 10.06am respectively.
The first attack occurred near the check point to the Central Police Station, in Kampala at around 10.03am.
Enanga noted that the fresh footages on CCTV clearly indicate how a male adult, putting on a black jacket, and carrying a back pack, detonated himself.
He revealed that the suicide bomber died instantly and the spill over effect caused additional injuries to police officers and other civilians who were within a radius of 30 metres.
Enanga further revealed that two other people were confirmed dead, while 17 others sustained very critical injuries. “Those injured were within the section covering the point of impact and the front desk area at the Central Police Station,” he said.
The police mouth piece noted that another bomb blast occurred within three minutes at Raja Chambers and Jubilee Insurance Building along Parliamentary Avenue.
He noted that two suicide bombers moving on motor cycles detonated themselves.
“Two suicide bombers were clearly captured, on motorcycles, disguising as bodaboda riders. They detonated the bombs they were carrying on themselves, that killed them instantly,” he said.
Enanga noted that both scenes have been cordoned off by the Joint Counter-terror task teams.
He noted that the 33 injured victims, 5 in critical condition, have been rushed to Mulago National Referral Hospital, for further treatment.
Enanga also said that another suicide bomber (fourth) was pursued, shot and injured while at Bwaise a Kamapala surbub.
“Although, three suicide bombers, died in the double bomb attacks, our CT response teams managed to pursue a fourth suicide bomb attacker, and covered him at Bwaise. They shot and injured him.”
Enanga noted that immediately after, the joint security teams, recovered an unexploded improvised explosive device, at Nansana-Katooke, at his home, which the bomb squad, were going to neutralize, adding, “We are now pursuing other members of the terror groups.”
The attacks come 22 days after the last suicide bomb attack on a Swift Safaris Bus, Enanga says that this clearly shows that the ADF linked radicalized groups, still have a desire to carry out lethal attacks, on soft targets, with suicide attackers and improvised explosive devices.
He revealed that these kinds of threats remain significant because IEDs and suicide bomb jackets can easily be built from common household items found in local markets, retail shops and supermarkets. Many businesses unconsciously sell these items, that are used to sell bombs, which calls for extra vigilance.
“We encourage businesses and the public to voluntarily report suspicious activities, such as buying large amounts of chemicals and materials that can be used to build bombs. We do strongly condemn the perpetrators of those senseless and heinous attacks within the city,” he said.
He added, “Although, our Joint Counter Terror teams, had mitigated bomb threats and attacks for the last 22 days, toady’s breakthrough attacks show that we still need to do more, to pre-empt, penetrate and prevent deadly attacks by domestic extremists in the days to come.”
Enanga notes that they (security forces), have managed to counter several bomb threats, and also neutralized several suspicious packages and device-related incidents across the nation.
He however says that now, the bomb threats are still active, and cannot be solved in one go, which calls for the popular intelligence and vigilance of the community.
“Once again, we would like to reassure all Ugandans and visitors to the country, that we continue to pursue all terrorists, their agents, operatives and collaborators, to help prevent the re-emergence of such acts of domestic terror,” he said.
