As you are all aware, we have entered day seven after the deadly suicide blasts at CPS and parliamentary Avenue. The attacks have so far claimed the lives of four innocent Ugandans and injured 37 others, out of whom 35 have since been discharged, and only 02 victims, both police officers, still remain admitted at Mulago National Referral Hospital. They are progressing well and out of danger. As we continue to face these unprecedented threats, we call upon all Ugandans to remember the families of George Katana, Basibe Ismael, PC Kungu Amos and Christopher Sande, as well as the family of Emily Nyinaneza, who died from the first bomb attack at Komamboga. The body of Basibe Ismael, who died from CPS has not yet been claimed, and we call upon his relatives to come forward and claim it for burial. The remains of the alleged suicide bombers have also not been claimed. Two of the three suicide attackers were identified by a member of the ADF suicide squad, a one Mugamba Moses Mudasiru aka Kalyowa aka Moze. He identified his accomplices as Wanjusi Abdul, who detonated the bomb at Parliament Avenue and Mansoor Uthman, who detonated the bomb at CPS Kampala.
Like we have always indicated, the attacks are from a known enemy, the ADF, who are aimed at promoting fear and panic in the public. As Ugandans we should reject terrorism in all its forms, because it totally undermines the fundamental values of liberty, humanity, freedom and togetherness. The values which our country holds dearly.
All Ugandans and visitors, should know that, we are still in a threat environment. And as the Joint Security Agencies, we are doing everything within our means, to prevent all kinds of terror attack on our country. We must however know that globally terror threats from suicide attackers are very unpredictable. No security measure, however, advanced, can ensure a 100% protection against suicide attackers.
Therefore, in our bid to disrupt and dismantle all acts of domestic terrorism, we have intensified operations along our borders to prevent illegal crossings. We have and continue to pursue perpetrators involved in terrorist financing, and persons involved in the incitement and, mobilization of vulnerable Ugandans, into ADF linked acts of terror including suicide bombers. So far a total of 106 suspects, linked to acts of domestic terror been arrested, seven others have been put our of action, while four suicide attackers, got killed during the suicide attacks.
We want to reiterate that the arrested persons are not targeted for their beliefs, ideology, religion, because that would make us, appear biased. The public should know that as long any individual or groups partakes in, engages or conspires to engage in, facilitates the engagement of acts of violence, or commit other crimes of violence they are deemed to be in total breach of the law and the peace and safety of Ugandans. We shall definitely pursue them and ensure they are all brought to justice.
In further efforts to deter and disrupt terrorism, we are actively monitoring all spaces in homes, places of worship, which are acting as domains for recruitment and as collection centres, for children who are introduced to ideological messages and beliefs. Our intelligence teams have gathered materials and accounts from children rescued or recovered. They have indicated how some of their friends are taken away to an unknown destination. For instance, our teams are actively searching for Sheikh Rwangabo, who is on the run after we raided a suspected recruitment and radicalization centre, in Kasengejje village, Kasengjje parish, Wakiso town council, in Wakiso district. However, two of the coordinators identified as Kaija Ismael and Ssewakiryanga Muhammad were arrested. We are further interrogating them, on the whereabouts of all the children, who went through their hands, since October 2021 todate. The 22 children, who were rescued, were brought from Wakiso, Nansana, Ntinda, Kagoma, Kawempe and Bugerere in Kayunga. They are currently in a shelter home, as arrangements to reintegrate and reunite them, with their parents, guardians and relatives, are taking place.
Also rescued are 3 children from Bunia, 7 from Kasese, 6 from Karugutu and 50 from Bombo. Notably among them is Ssemakula Shafik aka Fik abua, a 14-year-old, male juvenile who was kidnapped from Kiboga, and smuggled into the DRC. We cannot reveal the identity of the parents for security reasons. Together with other children, they were trained in weapon handling, detonating and planting bombs among other military maneuvers. He managed to escape and sneak back into the country through Kasese, where a good Samaritan got him onto a lorry up to Lukaya. He walked on foot upto Kyamuliibwa, where a chapati seller upon hearing his ordeal, handed him over to the police.
We want to caution parents against handing over their children, to such anti-democracy actors, who are bent on using their children as actors of violence and impunity, for their selfish gains.
As we conclude, we call upon every Uganda, to get involved in addressing crime and related acts of violence. It is only when we come together, that we can prevent and deter all acts of violent extremism including terrorism.
CP Enanga Fred
Police Spokesperson
22nd November 2021
