Uganda’s counter terrorism services have foiled a bomb attack at Rubaga Miracle Centre, a church run by prominent preacher, Pastor Robert Kayanja.
The incident occurred on Sunday morning as thousands thronged the church for Sunday prayers.
The church is located in Rubaga, a Kampala suburb.
Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson, Patrick Onyango, said the suspected terrorist has been arrested.
“He is called Ibrahim Kintu,” said Onyango, adding, “He is 28-years-old.”
“Intelligence agencies have been picking up intelligence that there are terrorists who are planning to hit us,” said Onyango.
“This morning, they picked intelligence that places of worship were likely to be hit today (Sunday). And of course, during the intelligence briefing, we got information that one terrorist had already been sent out to go and carry out a mission,” he added.
Onyango said the intelligence personnel followed the terrorist and planted other security officers at several places of worship.
“This (suspect) was more active and was followed up to here (Rubaga Miracle Centre) and was arrested and the bag was set aside for further management,” he narrated.
“When we brought our technology, indeed they (intelligence services) confirmed that in the bag there was an Improvised Explosive Device (IED). They (bomb squad) had to do controlled detonation to manage the explosion,” said Onyango.
“We are now trying to analyze what was in the IED. It was carried in a food flask. They (terrorists) had used nails. There was a phone to act as a switch, a detonator and booster charger and others. We are trying to look for the sim-card. on top of the food flask, they put powder to mislead anyone checking at the church’s entrance.”
Officials told Media that a deeper interrogation of the suspect is currently underway to obtain more information from him to counter terrorist activities in the country.
Police have previously attributed bomb attacks to Allied Democratic Forces (ADF).
Kayanja praised God and security services for saving his church from the bomb attack.
“We thank God above all, and we also want to thank all the Security agencies in this country for their efforts to stop this terrorist,” said Kayanja on X.
We Thank God above all, and we also want to thank all the Security agencies in this country for their efforts to stop this #terrorist . @PoliceUg
— Robert Kayanja (@RobertKayanja) September 3, 2023
Uganda has previously been attacked by ADF and Al Shabaab terrorists in which dozens of innocent people have died.
In 2010 there were bomb attacks in Kampala at venues screening the World Cup final killing over 70 people and injuring many more.
Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility and linked the attacks to Uganda’s military presence in Somalia as part of an African Union peacekeeping mission (AMISOM), and threatened further attacks in the region.
Daesh, formerly ISIS, has claimed responsibility for some of the more recent attacks in Uganda.
Recent attacks
- On 17 June 2023, the Ugandan police attributed to militants (the Allied Democratic Forces – ADF) an attack on a school in Mpondwe, Kasese District, western Uganda, close to the border with the DRC. 42 people were killed.
- On 16 November 2021, terrorists used two explosive devices in central Kampala killing 4 and injuring 33 people. Two further explosive devices were disarmed by the police
- On 25 October 2021, terrorists used an explosive device on a coach travelling on the Kampala to Masaka road near Mpigi killing one person
- On 23 October 2021, terrorists used an explosive device to attack a restaurant in Kamamboga, a suburb in the north east of Kampala killing one person and injuring a number of others
