By Kwanta Douglas –
Regional leaders have condemned the terror attacks in Uganda’s capital, Kampala, while promising to work together to combat the scourge.
Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, condemned the event, which left three people dead and more than 30 injured, and pledged the continental body’s cooperation in protecting the region.
As it seeks explanations to the incidents, Faki said the AU “stands in unequivocal solidarity with the people and government of Uganda.”
The regional bloc’s Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Executive Secretary, Dr Workneh Gebeyehu, said the group of seven member nations will back Uganda “in its fight against terrorism within the principles of rule of law.”
Two separate, but suspected to be related, incidents on Tuesday saw suicide bombers detonate bombs themselves in two streets in Kampala.
CCTV footage showed a man carrying a backpack walking just before the explosion near the Central Police Station. In the second incident, CCTV footage showed two men on bodaboda detonated a bomb near the Jubilee Insurance building along Parliament Avenue. Police said the three suspected suicide bombers were killed by the explosions.
“The United States condemns in the strongest terms today’s terrorist attack in central Kampala,” said a statement from the US Mission in Uganda, which also condoled with families who had lost loved ones.
“The United States support for Uganda people is unwavering as we work toward our shared goal of a secure, democratic and prosperous Uganda.”
By last evening, police had not identified the bombers by name but Spokesman Fred Enanga told the media they were suspected allies of the proscribed Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) whose leader Jamil Mukulu is in a Ugandan jail.
“It clearly shows that the ADF-linked radicalised groups still have a desire to carry out lethal attacks on soft targets, with suicide attackers and improvised explosive devices,” Mr Enanga told a press briefing in Kampala.
Police said there could be more planned attacks.
One device was found near the Central Police Station, where the first bomb was detonated earlier in the morning, while other devices were found in the market. All the bombs were destroyed by responding police.
Another fourth suspected bomber was arrested in Bwaise, a township in Kampala.