Ugandan security forces have been placed on high alert following reports of a potential attack by al-Qaeda operatives.
Intelligence from the United Nations and the United States indicates that Kampala may be a target, likely in response to Uganda’s peacekeeping efforts in Somalia.
A security source confirmed that authorities in Kampala are aware of the looming threat.
Security Measures Intensified
Police spokesperson Rusoke Kituuma confirmed the threat and announced that security measures have been significantly strengthened.
“We’ve heightened security at public places such as markets, malls, and transport hubs,” Kituuma stated.
Managers in these areas have been instructed to remain vigilant, conduct thorough checks, and report any suspicious activities.
Kituuma also urged the public to stay alert and report any unusual behaviour or unfamiliar individuals.
Historical Context: September 11 and al-Qaeda
The United States frequently issued terror alerts in September, coinciding with the anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attacks.
These attacks resulted in the deaths of approximately 2,750 people in New York, 184 at the Pentagon, and 40 in Pennsylvania.
All 19 terrorists involved were killed. Nearly a decade later, on May 2, 2011, US Navy SEALs killed al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden in Pakistan.
Ugandan Arrested in Kenya During Counterterrorism Operation
In a counterterrorism operation last year, a Ugandan man was among 14 suspects arrested.
The operation, named Tripartite Spider, was coordinated by Interpol and supported by Afripol, aiming to enhance the capabilities of national counterterrorism teams in identifying suspects and disrupting their financial networks.
Conducted across the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Somalia, Tanzania, and Uganda, the operation led to the arrest of Isma Mutanda, a Ugandan businessman, by Kenya’s Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU) in a Nairobi suburb.
Mutanda, from Kiduuzi village in Mityana district, remains under investigation for his alleged connections to a regional terrorist network.
Links to Terrorist Groups
The suspects detained during the operation were connected to various terrorist groups, including the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), al-Shabaab, and the Islamic State (ISIS).
Among them, two were believed to be al-Shabaab members, while another was linked to a 2022 suicide bombing in Oicha, DR Congo, attributed to the ADF.
One suspect was arrested for financing terrorism through a money transfer scheme disguised as a flower business, with ties to an ISIS operative involved in the 2017 attack on the International Village Hotel in Bosaso, Somalia.
Additionally, four individuals were arrested for suspected ISIS activities in southern Africa, and one was found with a large cache of explosives.
Impact on Uganda’s Image and Recent Attacks
In response to the increased terror threat, the Uganda Tourism Board requested 5 billion shillings in March to engage international media and mitigate the negative impact of warnings about ADF infiltration.
Recent terrorist incidents include the ADF’s attack on Mpondwe Lhubirira Secondary School in Kasese last year, resulting in 44 deaths, including students.
In November 2021, terrorists detonated explosive devices in Kampala, killing four and injuring 33. Similar attacks occurred in October 2021, targeting a bus on the Kampala-Masaka Road and a restaurant in Komamboga.
Additionally, the July 2010 bombings in Kampala by al-Shabaab, which killed over 70 people, were linked to Uganda’s military involvement in Somalia.
