Ugandan security forces have increased their presence in urban areas after receiving terror alerts from the United States Embassy and United Nations agencies.
The alerts, which were confirmed by the Ugandan police, are intended to prevent potential terrorist attacks as the U.S. marks the anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attacks in New York, which claimed 2,750 lives.
Police spokesman Assistant Commissioner Kituuma Rusoke verified the authenticity of the alerts, explaining that the U.S. routinely issues such warnings to its citizens around the world as the September 11 anniversary approaches.
On September 11, 2001, supporters of the Al Qaeda terror group hijacked commercial airplanes and used them to strike key U.S. landmarks, including the Pentagon and the World Trade Center.
These attacks spurred the U.S. and its allies to invade Iraq and Afghanistan, leading to the overthrow of their governments.
The latest U.S. Embassy alert stated: “The Embassy is aware of unconfirmed reports of increased risk of terrorist attacks in Kampala and enhanced security measures by local authorities. American citizens are encouraged to exercise increased caution in public areas, including shopping malls, schools, and areas frequented by tourists.”
Assistant Commissioner Rusoke urged Ugandans to remain vigilant, noting that many terror groups often seek to mark significant dates by carrying out attacks. “Our malls and public places have relaxed security. Terrorism affects all of us. We want the public to be very vigilant all the time,” he emphasized.
Over the past year, Uganda, along with the U.S. and the UK, has issued several security alerts. In March, the Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs reported receiving intelligence that the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a rebel group led by Tanzanian-born bomb expert Ahamed Muhamood Hassan (also known as Abu Waqas), was planning attacks on urban areas, places of worship, and public events in Uganda.
The ADF has been responsible for a series of attacks in Uganda since 2014, targeting bars, trucks, schools, and roadside markets.
The group has been accused of killing over 200 people in 30 terror attacks since July 2001. The most recent attack occurred in June 2023, when the ADF killed more than 41 people, primarily students, at Lhubiriha Secondary School in Kasese District. #
Some students were abducted and remain missing.
In another incident in October last year, suspected gunmen attacked a truck transporting onions from Kisoro District to the Mpondwe border in Kasese District, killing one person and injuring another before setting the truck on fire.
Security forces have since dismantled the group responsible for the Lhubiriha school attack and the truck ambush.
The UN Warning
The Embassy is aware of unconfirmed reports of increased risk of terrorist attacksin Kampala and enhanced security measures by local authorities.
American citizens are encouraged to exercise increased caution in public areas including shopping malls, schools, and areas frequented by tourists.
U.S. citizens should:
- Remain alert and avoid large public gathering places.
- Keep a low profile.
- Be aware of your surroundings.
- Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
