Andrew Bagala
4 October 2008
Kampala — The public has been put on alert over what security authorities say is a credible threat of terrorist attacks on public places around the city, Daily Monitor has learnt.
Police Director of Operations Francis Rwego has issued a warning to all police units in the country to be on high alert and "be on the lookout for any suspicious material and explosive accessories."
Kampala Extra Police spokesman Simeo Nsubuga said yesterday they have received information that terrorists may strike anytime especially in crowded places. "Everyone should be on alert and report to police anything suspicious that is left abandoned in a public place," Mr Nsubuga said.
He said the terrorists are targeting congested places like taxi parks, markets, embassies, hotels and other strategic areas within the city. "We have, with immediate effect rolled out community sensitisation programmes in various media so that people can know about their safety," he said.
Police, however, has declined to divulge details of the groups behind the possible terrorism attacks. The terrorism alert comes weeks after security operatives detonated a grenade at Bulange, Mengo main entrance.
Police says the bomb had been left buried in the ground for years.
Last year, in February a bomb killed three people, including Ex-Allied Democratic Force operative, at Nateete, a Kampala suburb. The bomb blast forced President Yoweri Museveni to order the Inspector General of Police Kale Kayihura to recruit 1000 Special Police Constables in the city centre to monitor road injunctions.
In 2002, bombs that were reportedly planted by Allied Democratic Force (ADF) operatives in Kampala left a number of people killed while others survived with severe injures. Most of the bombs were detonated in the public places like St. Balikuddembe market, taxi parks and discotheques.
Security agents have also started sending terrorist attack alerts to different organisations. "We have five telephone numbers which the public can reach our in case they get any information related to these terrorists. The numbers are 0414256366, 0414250611, 0414256367, 0414254561, 0414254262," Mr Nsubuga said. He said the numbers will operate 24 hours.
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