By Ronaldo Kalangi
Kampala, Uganda: Police and other security organs have increased vigilance and presence around Kampala after receiving intelligence that the country could be next on the hit-list for Somalia based Al Shabaab terrorist group.
This comes after Al Shabaab killed over 14 people when they exploded bombs at Dusit Complex on River Side Street in Nairobi, Kenya on Tuesday. Following the development, police spokesperson CP Fred Enanga has revealed that security agencies have beefed up operations and vigilance at all check points along Kenyan borders up to Kampala, to ensure that no terrorist enters Uganda to cause bloodshed. “As we continue to actively monitor the aftermath of yesterday’s attack in the Kenyan Capital, Nairobi, where 14 innocent lives were lost and several other people severely injured, we want to assure the public that the general security situation in the country is still calm and peaceful,” Enanga said on Wednesday. He added that “We extend our deepest sympathies to those impacted by this tragedy and in addition, we do honor the bravery and courage exhibited by the Kenyan Security Forces, after they eliminated the 4 terrorists who participated in the attack. We are meanwhile working closely with our counterparts to verify whether any Ugandan citizens could have been affected by the incident, and advise those planning to travel to Nairobi or other areas to contact security and their travel agencies for further guidance.” He also noted that
“Although, there are no specific threats to our country, we do reaffirm our commitment to tackling terrorism and have raised our security level of activities amidst a wider range of interventions, that will enable us reduce further the risks to the public. We would also like to urge the public that everyone has a role to play in confronting terrorism by remaining alert and report any concerns to the police on toll free numbers 0800199699 and 0800122291.” Inspector General of police Martin Ochola has also instructed his police officers to inspect all happening places around the country like hotels, bars, shopping malls, restaurants, prayer centres like churches and mosques and beaches to ensure Ugandans are safe.
