Police issues countrywide terror alert

Oct 04, 2008

THE Police has issued a countrywide terror alert, warning of imminent attacks by groups connected to Osama Bin Laden’s Al-Qaeda network.

By E. Ssejjoba and S. Candia

THE Police has issued a countrywide terror alert, warning of imminent attacks by groups connected to Osama Bin Laden’s Al-Qaeda network.

As a result, the Director of Operations, Francis Rwego, yesterday dispatched communication to all units and unit commanders to increase security and be on the alert. “They are targeting shopping malls, markets, hotels, taxi parks, government installations and foreign embassies,” Kampala Police spokesperson, Simeo Nsubuga, said.

“The public should be extra careful and report abandoned objects like polythene bags, bags, vehicles and suitcases to security authorities.”

He issued four hotlines where the public can call to report. The numbers are 0414-256366; 0414-256367; 0414-254561 and 0414-454562.

As a precautionary measure, the Police held meetings with authorities of bus and taxi parks, urging them to step up security.

“They should search passengers and check luggage. Also clubs, bars, hotels, entertainment spots and places of worship should be careful because these are vulnerable places,” he said, adding that the Police and other sister security organisations were ready to contain any threat.

In 1999 and 2000 the country was hit by a wave of locally orchestrated terror attacks, largely blamed on the ADF. In the wave, that left scores dead and many others injured, bars and other public places like taxi parks were targeted. It took the intervention of the Joint anti terrorism taskforce (JATT) to contain the situation.

Unlike other countries in the region, however, Uganda has not borne the brunt of international terrorism. In 1998, Kenya and Tanzania suffered bomb attacks on their American embassies that left hundreds dead. The attacks were blamed on the Al-Qeada.

In early August, Kenyan security authorities alerted Tanzanian authorities over Al-Qaeda’s East Africa linkman and suspected mastermind of the 1998 bombings, Fazul Abdul Mohammed.

Kenyan anti-terrorist police stormed his hideout in Malindi where they found two passports bearing his photographs but with two different names, and a laptop.

Following the development, Uganda last month said it had beefed up its security following Kenyan media reports that Fazul was planning to strike on Uganda.

The Standard newspaper, quoting intelligence reports, said Fazul was bent on punishing Uganda for its involvement in the peacekeeping operation in Somalia. Islamist insurgents have stepped up their attacks on Ugandan troops who serve on an AU-peace-keeping mission in Somalia.

The alert also comes just months after Ugandan security authorities arrested two South African Islamic clerics on suspicion of terrorism. The suspects have since been deported.

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