Fresh Details Emerge on Ishaka-bound Bus; Suicide Bomber’s Collaborator Alive, Got Out at Maya

Uganda Police Force (UPF) spokesperson Fred Enanga has confirmed October 25 evening explosion on a Swift Safaris bus as “a suicide bomb attack, where the suspected bomb attacker died on spot.”

In the explosion, the second in a space of three days in the country, 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,” added Enanga.

The police spokesperson also revealed that two terrorists, including the suicide bomber, were in the bus.

“This is the first incident of a suicide attack, where the bomber concealed a suicide vest and belt and detonated it on board.  The facts gathered so far indicate that the attacker and an accomplice were among the 52 passengers who boarded Swift Safari’s Bus, under registration number, UAU989T, from Kisenyi Bus Terminal, heading to Ishaka, Bushenyi,” he said.

The suspected accomplice is said to have disembarked at Maya. About 10km away from the Maya Checkpoint, a bomb went off, killing the suicide bomber who has since been identified as Isaac Matovu.

“The bus left Kampala at around 4pm, and made a first stop over at Maya checkpoint. Then proceeded, but shortly after a distance less than two kilometers, one of the passengers who is suspected to have 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,” narrated Enanga.

“The bus stopped and the conductor allowed him to disembark. It was after a distance of 8 to 10kms, at a place identified as LungalaLC1, Maziba Ward Mpigi Town Council, in Mpigi District, that the bomb exploded in the bus.The suicide bomber identified as Matovu Isaac, a 23-year-old, male adult and resident of Kamuli ‘A’ Zone, in Kireka, died on the spot. He was on the wanted list by security for being a member of the ADF sleeper cells, as “MUZAFALU.”