Bomb Attached to Bag’s Zip: Fresh Details Emerge on Female Suicide Bomber Killed at Kalerwe

Uganda’s army, the UPDF, says the suspected suicide bomber killed at Kalerwe had planned to blow up the market.

Defence and UPDF spokesperson Brig Gen Felix Kulaigye said security put placed the suspected suicide bomber under surveillance for atleast three days before she was killed.

The Sunday morning action by security was aimed at preventing an attack, added Brig Gen Kulaigye.

“[We had] Three days of constant surveillance by the intelligence. She rose up early on Sunday to complete her mission,” Kulaigye said at a news conference at UPDF headquarters in Mbuya, Kampala, on Sunday, June 22, 2025.

“Fortunately, we have been following her closely.”

He went on to say that the suspected female suicide bomber, who was on a boda boda, had defied orders to stop at the Gayaza flyover.

After she chose and defiance and continued with her journey to Kalerwe, the Defence spokesperson further said, operatives made the decision to take her on.

“They [state security operatives] followed her, and as she reached the entrance to the [Kalerwe] market, she was shot with a bullet. We picked up the bag she was carrying, and the bomb squad diffused it,” said Kulayigye.

One person was injured during the process of putting the suspected suicide bomber out of action.

The rider of the bodaboda that the suspected suicide bomber was riding on jumped off the motorcycle and appeared after realizing that his client had landed in trouble.

According to Kulaigye, the suspected suicide bomber had her bomb attached to the zip of the bag. He added that the bomb would have gone off had the bag been unzipped.

The UPDF spokesperson added that the operation was informed by intelligence information to the effect that Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) terrorists had planned to attack places of worship, markets, and other public places.

The Kalerwe incident followed one on Martyrs Day in which a suspected female suicide bomber was killed as she reportedly planned to blow up a martyrs shrine. Security later released shocking details about the suspected female suicide bomber. (See Details Here).

Meanwhile, at least seven UPDF soldiers have been killed in Somalia, as reported Here.

For comments on this report, story tips or sponsored content, send us a Whatsapp message on +256 705 690 819 or E-mail us on pearltimesug@gmail.com).

Please Follow our Whatsapp Channel for More Stories Here