Patrick Jaramogi
12 October 2008
Kampala — THE army yesterday warned the Somali community living in Uganda to cooperate with security agencies to avert the looming terror attack.
The warning comes at a time when Uganda has been put on high terror alert following intelligence reports that al-Qaeda regional linkman Fazul Abdallay plans a strike.
A source attached to the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) yesterday told The New Vision that there were reports that al-Qaeda agents were trying to use some 'desperate' Somali refugees in Kisenyi, a Kampala suburb.
"We have heard reports that some people are planning to use some of you (Somali) to cause mayhem. But be warned that this will backfire on you.
Support the relevant security agencies with information regarding any intent from subversive elements," said Lt. Timothy Tumusiime, the civil military relations officer.
Tumusiime, who addressed over 50 Somali clan heads and leaders at a security meeting held in Kisenyi, urged the leaders to ask their colleagues to cooperate with security agencies.
"Do not be lured into causing terror in Kampala. Let us live together or we shall all perish like fools. Desist from terrorism activities while living here," he said, adding that "Our gallant soldiers are dying in Somalia because we want peace. We do not want a similar situation here."
At least 1,000 Somali are living in Kisenyi, one of the city's largest slums.
The Somali community chairperson, Hussein Hassan, said they had formed a security committee to gather intelligence on suspicious people.
According to Kenyan intelligence reports, Fazul, who escaped arrest in Kenya last month, wants to punish Kampala for its involvement in the peacekeeping operation in Somalia.
Fazul, born on the Comoros Islands, was indicted in the US for his involvement in the 1998 bombings of the American embassies in Dar-es-Salaam and Nairobi.
In Kenya, Fazul is suspected of involvement in two attacks in Mombasa on November 26, 2002.
Early in 2007, during the war in Somalia, Fazul was thought to be in the border area near Ras Kamboni, along with remnants of the Islamic Courts Union.
On January 8 last year, a US Air Force gunship targeted al-Qaeda in the area and Fazul was rumoured dead.
However, the US ambassador to Kenya denied that he had been killed in the airstrike.
On August 2, he escaped a police dragnet in Malindi, Kenya, but two of his aides were arrested. The police confiscated two of his passports and a laptop.
The US Department of State is offering a reward of up to $5m for information leading to his arrest.
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