The United States Ambassador in Kampala, Scott H. DeLisi, has telephoned President Yoweri Museveni to congratulate him, following the successful operation carried out by Ugandan security agencies that foiled an al- Shabaab terrorist plot.
Ambassador DeLisi noted that the disruption of the terrorist plot in Kampala had saved lives.
“We can confirm that Ambassador DeLisi did, indeed, call President Museveni to congratulate him and express the United States’ gratitude for the successful disruption of an al-Shabaab terrorist attack,” Daniel Travis, the US embassy’s public affairs officer, said in a brief statement emailed to New Vision.
Daniel Travis quoted the ambassador as saying: “The work of the Ugandan security agencies certainly saved lives and led to the arrest of several suspected terrorists. The US Embassy deeply appreciates Uganda’s continued commitment to our strong partnership in the pursuit of regional peace and security.”
In a Monday post on his Facebook wall, the ambassador said: “I have already spoken to senior government officials to acknowledge the tremendous work of security agencies here in disrupting an al-Shabaab terrorist plot. Congratulations to all for a huge success in our common struggle to ensure people can live in peace and security.”
The Police over the weekend raided what was described as a suspected al-Shabaab cell in the downtown Mengo-Kisenyi suburb that was planning an imminent terror attack.
Nineteen suspects were arrested in the operation on Saturday. The same day, the US embassy sent out an alert, urging all American citizens in Uganda to stay indoors.
It has since sent out an advisory saying that “based on coordination with Ugandan authorities, we believe the immediate threat of an al-Shabaab attack has been effectively countered.”
Nonetheless, Americans were urged to remain vigilant.
More suspects arrested
Police has said they had arrested six more al-Shabaab terror suspects in Kampala, bringing the number to 25 in custody since the raid over the weekend.
The suspects were arrested on Saturday and Monday from Mengo-Kisenyi, a densely populated city suburb with a huge Somali community. Sources said all suspects are fairly new immigrants in the country and are of Somali origin.
The sources said Ugandan security agencies have been joined by the American Federal Bureau of Investigations forensic experts in the investigations.
The Special Investigations Division (SID) commandant, Charles Kataratambi told New Vision, that Government had hired Somali interpreters to help during the interrogation of the suspects. According to sources, three of the suspected terrorists are women.
Sources said security in the operation seized two suicide vests and other explosive materials. It is suspected the suicide vests were smuggled into Uganda from Somalia via Kenya.
Security believes the foiled terror attack was being coordinated by a high-ranking commander in al-Shabaab, identified as Adan Garaar, who eluded arrest, but is believed to be still in Uganda.
Al-Shabaab, according to security sources, wanted to punish Uganda for the role the UPDF troops under the African Union peacekeeping Mission (AMISOM), played in providing intelligence that enabled the US forces to kill al-Shabaab’s overall leader, Ahmed Godane.
Consequently, the Police have tightened security at all public places. Police have also increased patrols in the city and other towns.
Earlier attacks
The discovery of the al-Shabaab cell in Uganda came as Kenya prepared to mark the first anniversary of an al-Shabaab attack on Nairobi’s Westgate Shopping Mall in which 67 people were killed.
In July 2010, al-Shabaab bombed two entertainment places in Kampala as soccer fans were watching the World Cup final on television.
The twin bomb attacks at Kyadondo Rugby Grounds in Lugogo and Ethiopian Village in Kabalagala killed 74 people and left many others injured. Al-Shabaab terrorists oppose Kenya and Uganda’s participation in AMISOM, which is backing the internationally-recognised Somali government and working to bring about peace and security in the war-torn country.
AMISOM brings together under a unified command troops provided by Burundi, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya and Sierra Leone.
New Vision
Leave a Reply