MARTYRS DAY EXPLOSION: Details Emerge on Munyonyo Bomb Blast, Identity of Suicide Bomber

A bomb blast near the Munyonyo Martyrs Shrine has killed two people as Uganda marked Martyrs Day.

The two were travelling on a commercial motorcycle, popularly known as bodaboda, when the bomb went off.

It killed them on spot. Their motorcycle was shattered.

Anti-Terrorism Taskforce (JATT), the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit, and Uganda Police cordoned off the place.

Earlier, reports suggested that an explosive had detonated as two people, a male and female, approached Munyonyo Martyrs Shrine.

But later, acting UPDF and defence spokesperson Col Chris Magezi said the UPDF had killed two terrorists in Munyonyo.

Col Magezi said one of the terrorists was a female and “a suicide bomber laden with powerful explosives.”

Magezi called for calm and vigilance.

“A UPDF counter-terrorism unit this morning intercepted and neutralized two armed terrorists in Munyonyo, an upscale city suburb. It was an intelligence led operation, and the security services are on heightened alert to ensure the Martyrs Day celebrations proceed without disruption,” he said.

“The general public is urged to remain calm but vigilant and report to the security services any suspicious individuals, objects or activities for immediate attention.”

There were questions on whether the suicide bomber and the rider were shot dead by the UPDF or whether an explosive detonated before they reached the shrine.

But Magezi’s statement suggests that counter-terrorism operatives had had intercepted and shot the suspected suicide bomber, prompting her suicide vests to explode.

The suspected female suicide bomber has been linked to previous terror attacks in the country – which attacks the Islamic State (IS) affiliate Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) claimed.

She was said to be a daughter of the suicide bomber who blew himself at Kampala Central Police Station (CPS) in the terror attacks that shook Uganda in November 2021. (Read about the Kampala CPS attacks Here, There and Over There.

The Kampala CPS suicide bomber — father to the suspected suicide bomber neutralized at Munyonyo — was identified as Abdul Shaqur.

UPDF has since identified the suicide bomber at Munyonyo as  Aisha Katushabe.

Magezi noted that Katushabe also used other names like Sumaya Byaruhanga and Kabonesa.

He went on to say that Katushabe had been in their custody before over links to terrorists.

“This lady, the suicide bomber has been in our custody before, in 2023, it was October, and we interrogated her because she had links with the ADF [Allied Democratic Forces],” Magezi noted

”She was known as Aisha Katushabe also known as Byaruhanga Sumaya, also known as Kabonesa in her 20s.”

Katushabe’s husband — who Magezi identified as Muzafaru — had been killed earlier in 2021 during counter terrorism operations.

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