Uganda’s army, the UPDF, has warned National Unity Platform (NUP) supporters attending Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine’s rallies to be mindful of their safety and security after at least six bombs and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) were recovered in a space of two days in Kampala.
Bobi Wine began on his countrywide tour, opening offices and addressing rallies in major towns. However, in the very week he started his rallies, there were some security concerns in the wake of bomb scares.
According to the Uganda Police Force (UPF), on September 03, at around 11 a.m., the Joint Police Team of CT, K9, CI, and Territorial Police, that was deployed at Pastor Robert Kayanja’s Miracle Centre Cathedral (MCC) intercepted a terrorist who had disguised as a churchgoer and recovered an IED, at the main entrance of the Church, in Kayanja Triangle Zone, Lubaga Parish in Kampala District.
Police spokesperson Fred Enanga has confirmed that the IED was detonated at the scene and a number of exhibits were recovered. They included a dry battery (D and K-1987), a detonator card, a container of powder, 57 nails of 4 inches, yellow sellotape, an Itel phone battery and its housing as well as burnt parts of a black bag.
The suspect at Pastor Kayanja’s church was identified as Abdulrahman Kintu, a 28-year-old, resident of Mbizinya village, Buwama Sub County in Mpigi District.
Kintu is said to have been on the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) wanted list. Enanga added: “Upon interrogation, the suspect admitted that there were six terrorists behind the plot, and further led the Joint Team of JATT officers, CMI, CI CID, KMP, and Forensics, to their rented two-roomed house, at Luungujja Zone 8, where three other constructed IEDs were recovered. The bomb experts also detonated the three IEDs and further recovered ingredients of evidential value.”
As of September 04, an additional five suspects had been arrested in connection with the IEDs planted in Kampala, including in Mabiito area, within Nateete Central B Zone, Lubaga Division in Kampala district.
Meanwhile, another IED was recovered, abandoned at Peaceful Guest House in Ngobe-Bunamwanya. In total, six IEDs were recovered and detonated within two days: September 03 and 04.
WARNING TO BOBI WINE SUPPORTERS
Now, Army spokesperson Brig Gen Felix Kulayigye has warned that the UPDF and joint security agencies cannot guarantee the safety of those attending NUP rallies. Bobi Wine and Felix Kulayigye.
“We cannot guarantee the safety of those who attend those events [Bobi Wine’s rallies]. Those crowds need to bother about their security. There is a likelihood of people interpreting our statements as politically-motivated but that won’t stop us from warning them about the danger of such crowds,” said Kulayigye.
He also noted that the state was not so desperate that it would use security warnings to block Bobi Wine’s rallies. “Are we so desperate to deal with NUP that we create terror threats?” he wondered.
Last week, NUP revealed that European diplomats had warned that Bobi Wine’s life was in danger and that the principal could be assassinated.
Meanwhile, Bobi Wine has told Ugandans to reject President Museveni’s son Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba’s presidential project. Also, opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye has said Gen Muhoozi is ‘terribly substandard’ to be president.
