World

Deadly blast in Ugandan capital ‘a terror act’ — president

October 24, 2021
An explosion has rocked Digida Pork Joint in Komamboga, Kampala, Uganda killing at least one person. — courtesy Twitter
An explosion has rocked Digida Pork Joint in Komamboga, Kampala, Uganda killing at least one person. — courtesy Twitter

KAMPALA — A deadly blast in Kampala late on Saturday appeared to be an act of terrorism, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni said on Sunday.

He said the explosion in the capital killed one person, although the Uganda Police chief political commissar Asan Kasingye said late on Saturday that two people were killed.

Several others were injured after an explosion in Uganda's capital Kampala, the country's President Museveni said in a tweet Sunday.

"The Information I have is that 3 people came and left a package in Kaveera, which later on exploded, killing 1 person and injuring 5 others", the president tweeted.

"It seems to be a terrorist act," he added, saying, "We shall get the perpetrators."

The Uganda Police chief political commissar Asan Kasingye said later on Saturday that two people were killed, Reuters reported.

The police are investigating the incident, President Museveni said, adding that the "public should not fear, we shall defeat this criminality."

Police and explosive experts were seen at the site of the blast on Sunday, which had been cordoned off by officers.

The UK and France warned last week of a heightened terror threat in Uganda. Britain advised travelers that "terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in Uganda," and that "attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places visited by foreigners."

The blast occurred at Digida Pork Joint, a restaurant, local media reported. Videos shared on social media showed panicked and confused revelers illuminated by blue police lights.

Bomb blasts in the East African country are rare. Kampala suffered a major attack by Somalia's Al Shabaab in 2010 that killed dozens. The group said it had attacked Uganda as a punishment for its deployment of troops in Somalia. — Agencies


October 24, 2021
320 views
HIGHLIGHTS
World
11 hours ago

Prosecution: Trump hush money was ‘pure election fraud’

World
11 hours ago

Palestinian UN agency must improve neutrality — report

World
13 hours ago

Yale University: Dozens arrested during US Gaza campus protests