Uganda on terror alert
Sep 16, 2008
Ugandan security organisations have been put on high terror alert following reports that Al-Qaeda regional linkman Fazul Abdallah plans an imminent strike on Uganda.
By Steven Candia
Ugandan security organisations have been put on high terror alert following reports that Al-Qaeda regional linkman Fazul Abdallah plans an imminent strike on Uganda.
Quoting Kenyan intelligence reports, The Standard newspaper in Nairobi indicated that Fazul, who escaped arrest in Kenya last month, wants to punish Kampala for its involvement in the peacekeeping operation in Somalia.
“We understand he is also recruiting. But people are on the ground and Kampala has been informed of the reports and is aware,†a security official told The Standard.
Born on the Comoros Islands, Fazul was indicted in the US for his alleged involvement in the 1998 bombings of the American embassies in Dar-es-Salaam and Nairobi.
In Kenya, Fazul is suspected of involvement in two attacks in Mombasa on November 26, 2002.
One was the truck bombing of Paradise Hotel, in which 15 were killed.
In early 2007, during the war in Somalia, he was thought to be in the border area near Ras Kamboni, along with remnants of the Islamic Courts Union.
On January 8 last year, a US Air Force gunship targeted al-Qaeda in the area and Fazul was rumoured dead. However, the US ambassador to Kenya denied that he had been killed in the airstrike.
On August 2, 2008 he escaped a police dragnet in the Kenyan coastal town of Malindi but two of his aides were arrested.
He was said to have been sneaked to Kenya from Somalia a few days earlier seeking treatment for kidney problems. The police confiscated two of his passports and a laptop.
The US Department of State is offering a reward of up to $5m for information leading to his apprehension.
When contacted yesterday, internal affairs minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda confirmed the development.
“Security organs have been alerted and will continue to be on alert now that terrorist threats are there, globally and at the regional level, and we are to ensure that we prevent them.â€
On whether there was any communication on an imminent attack on Uganda because of its deployment in Somalia, Rugunda was guarded.
“That communication is not critical. What is critical is whether Kampala is alert and prepared to counter these threats. As usual, we share a lot of information with our neighbours and other forces that are opposed to terrorism.â€
He called upon the public to be vigilant and report any suspicious activities.
“This is not only about security agencies. Everyone has a role to play. If anyone sees something that is suspicious which could point towards terrorism, he or should notify the Police.â€
Ugandan security organisations have been put on high terror alert following reports that Al-Qaeda regional linkman Fazul Abdallah plans an imminent strike on Uganda.
Quoting Kenyan intelligence reports, The Standard newspaper in Nairobi indicated that Fazul, who escaped arrest in Kenya last month, wants to punish Kampala for its involvement in the peacekeeping operation in Somalia.
“We understand he is also recruiting. But people are on the ground and Kampala has been informed of the reports and is aware,†a security official told The Standard.
Born on the Comoros Islands, Fazul was indicted in the US for his alleged involvement in the 1998 bombings of the American embassies in Dar-es-Salaam and Nairobi.
In Kenya, Fazul is suspected of involvement in two attacks in Mombasa on November 26, 2002.
One was the truck bombing of Paradise Hotel, in which 15 were killed.
In early 2007, during the war in Somalia, he was thought to be in the border area near Ras Kamboni, along with remnants of the Islamic Courts Union.
On January 8 last year, a US Air Force gunship targeted al-Qaeda in the area and Fazul was rumoured dead. However, the US ambassador to Kenya denied that he had been killed in the airstrike.
On August 2, 2008 he escaped a police dragnet in the Kenyan coastal town of Malindi but two of his aides were arrested.
He was said to have been sneaked to Kenya from Somalia a few days earlier seeking treatment for kidney problems. The police confiscated two of his passports and a laptop.
The US Department of State is offering a reward of up to $5m for information leading to his apprehension.
When contacted yesterday, internal affairs minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda confirmed the development.
“Security organs have been alerted and will continue to be on alert now that terrorist threats are there, globally and at the regional level, and we are to ensure that we prevent them.â€
On whether there was any communication on an imminent attack on Uganda because of its deployment in Somalia, Rugunda was guarded.
“That communication is not critical. What is critical is whether Kampala is alert and prepared to counter these threats. As usual, we share a lot of information with our neighbours and other forces that are opposed to terrorism.â€
He called upon the public to be vigilant and report any suspicious activities.
“This is not only about security agencies. Everyone has a role to play. If anyone sees something that is suspicious which could point towards terrorism, he or should notify the Police.â€