How security recovered, detonated four explosives in Kawempe operation

Kampala, (UG):- A joint security team in Kampala Saturday conducted an operation in which they recovered, and detonated at least four Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) at Kwata zone, Komamboga Parish in Kawempe Division, a city suburb.

“Our intelligence and alertness of the citizens helped detect the IEDs and personnel swiftly rushed to the scene before they exploded. We were not able to get these terrorists believed to be linked to the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) in Eastern DR Congo, but we will hunt them down,” said Brig Gen Kulayigye, the UPDF Spokesperson in a statement on Saturday morning.

He added that they (the security team) also recovered mobile phones and magazines of a nine-millimetre pistol.

Kulayigye explained that the bombs were in metallic casings connected in series, and the phones were to receive the command from whoever would be having the remote control. Once set off, the explosives would go off in series.

Further reports show that the landlord of the premises where the IEDs were found identified as Mr Richard Kiyimba was reportedly away when two men came on Tuesday looking for a house to rent.

“They liaised with the wife who allegedly received shs420, 000 before they occupied the single-room house. But we became suspicious of them hence alerting security,” Kulayigye said.

Mr Kimbugwe Kateregga, the LCII chairperson of Komamboga Parish, said: “We moved around with the army and police officers throughout Friday night to locate the house where IEDs were reported to have been located.”

Mr Kateregga said this is not the first time IEDs have been planted in Komamboga. The last time was in 2022 when they were recovered in another house a few metres from where they were recovered Saturday.

Ms Racheal Nantume, a resident of Kwata zone, asked the government to provide security in the area saying they are now living in fear.

The army spokesperson also told the media that another operation carried out recently led to the arrest of three suspected rebels who are still in their custody as the hunt for others continues. They include; Augustine Kalanzi, who was arrested in areas of Masaka, Sulaiman Nsubuga arrested in Busia, and Swaleh Abubakar arrested in Zambia.

He said according to military intelligence, it is understood that the terrorists are commanded by one Medi Nsubuga alias Nkalubo who is also the mastermind of these IEDs and other crimes. Nsubuga is believed to be located in DRC but also sometimes moves to South Africa and other countries.

Other high-ranking military officers who visited the scene include; Maj Gen James Birungi, the Chief of Defence Intelligence and Security formerly Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) and the First Infantry Division Spokesperson, Major Charles Kabona.