Security agencies intensify patrols in Kampala, more explosives discovered

The police spokesperson, Fred Enanga, told journalists at the Naguru police headquarters that one of the devices was recovered from Bunnamwaya in one of the lodges and another at Mabiito Bub in Natete.

This brings the total number of collected and exploded IEDs recovered and defused by the joint security team in less than two days to six.

Four IEDs were defused yesterday, one of which was at Pastor Robert Kayanja's Miracle Centre Cathedral in Rubaga.

"We would like to inform the public that the arrests and counter-terrorism operations have not significantly increased the country's security level. There is still a threat environment, and as always, we have taken measures to respond to and mitigate all forms of terror threats," Enanga cautioned.

This new development comes against the backdrop of the arrest of a 28-year-old man on Sunday, September 3, 2023, who is said to have been in possession of an explosive device while entering Rubaga Miracle Centre, a Pentecostal church in Kampala, Uganda.

The suspect has since been identified by police as Kintu Ibrahim, and his links to any terrorist organisation are yet to be confirmed.

While talking to the media on Sunday, police spokesperson Patrick Onyango said they had earlier received intelligence on possible terrorist attacks on places of worship in Uganda.

"We earlier got intelligence that terrorists were planning to attack Kampala Central District," he told the media, adding that some of the intelligence gathered pointed out places of worship as possible targets for the terrorists.

He told the media that Kintu had a bag with an improvised explosive device, which police defused safely.

Onyango said Kintu confessed during interrogation that he had three accomplices who had also been sent to carry out similar attacks.

"The suspect is in police custody, and he is helping get hold of his other three accomplices who are on the run," he said.

Security agencies, including the police, have now intensified patrols in Kampala in response to the recent terror threat.