Uganda: Two suspected terrorists killed in blast near church
Two suspected terrorists, including an alleged female suicide bomber, were killed in an explosion on Tuesday near a church as Uganda heightened security for Martyrs Day, the country’s largest religious gathering, authorities said.
The blast went off near the Munyonyo Martyrs Shrine, a historic Catholic site in a lakeside suburb of Kampala. A small congregation had gathered there for early morning prayers
Eyewitnesses said the explosion occurred as two individuals, a man and a woman on a motorcycle, approached the church compound.
“The explosive detonated midway towards the church,” a witness at the scene told Monitor. “The sound was alarmingly loud. It could be heard from several meters away,” another witness told local media.
Acting Director Defence Public Information Col Chris Magezi said the explosion followed an intelligence-led counter-terrorism operation by the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF).
“A UPDF counter-terrorism unit this morning intercepted and neutralised two armed terrorists in Munyonyo. One of the terrorists, female, was a suicide bomber laden with powerful explosives,” Col Magezi said in a statement.
He added: “It was an intelligence-led operation, and the security services are on heightened alert to ensure the Martyrs Day celebrations proceed without disruption.”
Security personnel swiftly cordoned off the scene, barring access to and from the shrine. Authorities said no civilian casualties had been reported by press time.
The incident occurred over 30 kilometres from the main Martyrs Day events in Wakiso District, where over two million people were expected to gather at the Namugongo Catholic and Anglican site to commemorate Ugandan Christians executed for their faith between 1885 and 1887.
Mass and service were proceeding without interruption by 11 am local time, with President Museveni and First Lady Janet Museveni attending prayers at the Anglican site in Namugongo.
Tight security remained in place as tens of thousands congregated for the day’s commemorations.
Col Magezi urged the public to remain “calm but vigilant” and to report any suspicious individuals, items, or movements to the nearest security personnel.
In a video interview, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Abas Byakagaba confirmed the explosion but was quick to add that it was too early for him to “give anything tangible.”
“We are in control of all the security forces here present. We are just preserving this scene to ensure that it is well investigated. So far, no bystanders or people nearby were injured or dead apart from those who were on a motorcycle. It’s too early to give anything tangible, but what I can say is that there has been an explosion on a motorcycle. We ask our people to remain alert and conscious of the security situation around them,” he said.
Ugandan authorities have in recent years stepped up surveillance during major public events, citing threats from the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a rebel group linked to the Islamic State group, responsible for past attacks.
While no group had claimed responsibility by Tuesday mid-morning, defence officials said the operation had likely disrupted a planned attack.
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