Security agencies have formed a special anti-terrorism squad after receiving intelligence that terrorists linked to the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) have planned to attack pilgrims at Namugongo on Martyrs Day.
Martyrs Day will be marked on Monday but thousands of pilgrims have already arrived at both Catholic and Anglican Martyrs Shines. With the numbers expected to hit more than one million, sources say security has learnt that the 14 ADF-linked terrorists who crossed into Uganda a month ago have been planning to cause havoc during Martyrs Day celebrations.
Police’s Counter-Terrorism (CT) building on intelligence gathered by Defence Intelligence and Security (DIS) formerly Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) on Wednesday attacked a hideout of a wanted ADF terrorist Yasin Ddamulira in Mityana district and shot him dead.
Ddamulira’s death, according to Col Deo Akiiki, the deputy Defence Public Information Officer, came after DIS observed that he was in communication and it was decided to swiftly raid the place where signals had been detected.
Ddamulira is accused of having part and parcel of a group that attacked and detonated three bombs in Kampala in 2021 leaving five civilians and one police officer dead while 23 police officers and 10 other civilians survived with injuries.
However, sources say upon examining Ddamulira’s phone and other communication means, it has been established that he sneaked back into Uganda about five days ago and his mission was to supervise Namugongo attacks.
“Ddamulira was killed but his phone and some communication material show he had come to ensure pilgrims are attacked before or during Martyrs Day celebrations. This is why security has formed an ad-hoc special anti-terrorism squad to ensure no acts of terrorism are orchestrated,” sources said.
The team comprises Special Forces Command (SFC), Police Counter-Terrorism (CT), DIS and Crime Intelligence purposely to ensure all avenues that could be used to hurt pilgrims before, during or after prayers are swatted.
Patrick Onyango, the Kampala metropolitan police spokesperson, confirmed that terror-related intelligence has been received and communicated to all security agencies and personnel manning security at Namugongo. “We ask the pilgrims to be extra careful and report any suspicious objects. We have channeled the 999 call centre to Namugongo and whatever call will be made will be received at Namugongo,” Onyango said.
By Thursday, three trucks loaded with SFC soldiers had been deployed at strategic places at Namugongo while CT offices accompanied by Bomb Squads of both police and military were at the entrance and exit points.
Meanwhile, Betty Amongi, the Minister for Gender, Labour and Social Development, said the government has already given cash worth 1.1 Billion Shillings to organizing committees at Catholic and Anglican shrines while the Muslim committee has been given 200 million shillings.
However, the organizing committee at the Catholic Shrines said they were still short of 700 million shillings to meet their budget. But the minister for tourism Martin Mugarra said they were going to ensure all plans for Martyrs Day are financially supported.
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