Gov’t names new terror targets as it accepts Islamic state is behind Uganda bombs

KAMPALA-UGANDA/NEWSDAY: The Uganda Police Force on Tuesday evening provided exclusive details of how the Islamic State has penetrated into Uganda in close coordination with the Allied Defense Forces (ADF).

The force detailed how the terrorists are being financed and how they plan their attacks. Police also said the terrorists have already well established cells within the country and were using different terror strategies such as suicide vests and belts while others are armed assailants on bodabodas or motorcycles yet some groups use physical bomb attacks to target soft spots.

“We strongly believe the attackers (in Komamboga and Swift bus), are part of the sleeper cells in the country, inspired by ADF in close collaboration with the Islamic State,” police spokesperson Fred Enanga said on Tuesday.

He added that analysis indicates that the terror groups are attacking soft targets, which are many and quite difficult to defend. 

“They have plans of targeting civilians at easily accessible locations such as eating sports, public transportation like buses, taxis, places of worship, pedestrian areas, bars operating stealthily and any other crowded areas.

The terrorists according to police are financed by big Oil companies in Uganda. He named none however.

“We have established that they have been recruiting, radicalizing and researching   on how to build improvised explosive device, and how to carry out attacks in Uganda.  Their motive is clearly ideological and out of hatred by the ADF, that could be harboring plans of a bigger plot,” Enanga said.

He added that the terror group has been active since August, 2021 and is strongly coordinated by one of the ADF Commanders based in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), identified as Meddie Nkalubo aka Martin MD aka Benjo aka Benjamin Franklin aka Meddie Lee aka Punisher. 

“He has been hiding in the DRC for the last 6 years,” Enanga said.

He said that Punisher coordinated the botched terror incident in Pader district that was meant to target mourners at the burial of the late Lt. Gen. Paul Lokech, on August 27, 2021.

“ Two members of  the suspected group of terrorists, including an IED expert, Abdul Rashid Katumba, and a courier identified as Hassan Rwangabo, were arrested. A third suspect identified as Nsubuga Hamid aka Young Midu, the would-be suicide bomber, escaped from Pader, but was surveilled and put out of action, in Kyebando, while on VIP assassination mission in Kampala on the Otober 10, 2021,” Enanga said.

Arrests

At least 13 suspected rebel collaborators, 11 of whom were part of the hostile rebel group of the Uganda Homeland Liberation Movement/Front (UHLM/F), that has been active since 2016 have been arrested. 

The arrested suspects include; Openjuru Howard, Openjuru John,Jaker James Micheal, Oburatum Juventino, Oweka Bob Patrick, Olinga Simon Peter, Okweny David and Ngabijalatho Peter.  Other suspected rebel collaborators include Mutumba Muhamud, Warom Felix and Bamusingire Robert. 

Also two suspected Mai-Mai rebels including Bwambale Moses and Byakumbhagare James were arrested on  October 8, 2021 after they crossed into the country, through an ungazetted area. 

Terror funding in Uganda

Police say they are tracking down several opertators involved in money laundering and terrorist financing. 

“So far two have been arrested and these include AbdulahamWaibi and Sanyu Nakitende, who have so far received USD114.000 and distributed it to their recipients on behalf of the ADF” Enanga says.

He added that one of the recipients called Aisha Katushabe, who received money to facilitate acts of terrorism, was arrested on the October 25, 2021, from Hoima district. 

“Funding has also been channeled through selected petroleum companies and real estate dealers. About US$400000 found its way through the petroleum companies,” Enanga said.

Specifics of terror attacks since 2016

The UHLM/F rebel group, according to security agencies was responsible for the attacks on the UPDF detach at Opit in 2016, on Gulu CPS in 2016, on the UPDF detach in Zombo in 2020, the attack on the UPDF detach at Koch in Nebbi on the April 25, 2021, the attack on the UPDF detach at Zeu, in Zombo on the July 16, 2021. 

There was a failed attack on Kawempe police station and on Saturday deadly attack at Komamboga, where a 20-year-old, Nyinaneza Emily was killed and three others injured. Then on Monday the suicide bomb attack on SWIFT Bus that occurred at Lungala in Mpigi.

Assurance

Enanga assured Ugandans, that despite the cowardly acts of terrorism from existing sleeper cells inspired by the ADF, police remain committed with an unwavering resolve to protect Ugandans and visitors in the country.

“We are using strategies under the national security contingency and response plan, and our decade of experience and capabilities, to counter all perpetrators of terror in our country. We are also tracing for the person who disembarked from the bus, after the Maya checkpoint and will continue to work with our partners across the country, in our commitment to counter and disrupt terrorists, who seek to harm our country” Enanga said.

Lungala bus attack explained.

Enanga said that the Lungala incident where an explosion occurred on a bus was a suicide bombing.

“The bomb also critically injured one passenger, who was seated behind the suicide bomber.  Our Joint Task Team of experts from Counter-terrorism, intelligence and investigations responded to the incident, and classified it as an incident of domestic terror, with strong linkages to the ADF,” Enanga said.

This is the first incident of a suicide attack, where the bomber concealed a suicide vest and belt and detonated it on board a bus, according to police. The bus had 52 occupants. The bus was owned by Swift Safari’s and registered UAU989T. Its journey started from Kisenyi Bus Terminal, heading to Ishaka, Bushenyi.

It left Kampala at around 4pm, and made a first stop over at Maya checkpoint. Shortly after a distance less than two kilometers, one of the passengers who is suspected to have been an accomplice asked the conductor to allow him disembark from the bus and go back to Kampala, claiming he was needed to process documents to travel abroad.

“The bus stopped and the conductor allowed him to disembark. It was after a distance of 8 to 10kms, at a place identified as Lungala LC1, Maziba Ward Mpigi Town Council, in Mpigi District, that the bomb exploded in the bus.” Police says.

The suicide bomber has been identified as Matovu Isaac, a 23-year-old, male adult and resident of Kamuli “A” Zone, in Kireka, and he died on the spot.

“He was on the wanted list by security for being a member of the ADF sleeper cells, as “Muzafalu”,” President Museveni said in a statement on Tuesday.

On the bus was Adrian Kwetegyereza the Acting Regional Police Commander, Greater Bushenyi, who was traveling from Kampala to Bushenyi. He was given first aid by the Red Cross team and rushed to one of the major hospitals in Kampala, for further treatment.