Suspected suicide bomber trailed for days before attempted market attack - UPDF

The Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) has shed more light on the incident involving the killing of a suspected female suicide bomber at Kalerwe Market in Kampala on Sunday, noting that security operatives had been trailing her for days.

Addressing journalists after the incident, the Director of Defence Public Information, Maj. Gen. Felix Kulayigye explained that for the past three days, authorities had been closely monitoring the woman after intelligence reports indicated that she was planning attacks on both a church and a market in the area.

Media reports indicate that the suspect, whose identity remains unconfirmed, reportedly hired a boda boda from Busega and travelled along the Northern Bypass.

When she reached the Kalerwe flyover, security forces attempted to stop her, but she insisted on continuing toward the market, where she was ultimately shot and killed.

"For the last three days, intelligence was trailing a woman whom they understood had a mission to attack a church and a market. She was being followed by intelligence personnel from the moment she left her location, particularly when she picked a boda boda rider at Busega," he said.

"We have not yet identified the suspected suicide bomber, but very soon we shall know. From my observation, as I saw her, she may be Congolese."

Further, Kulayigye clarified that the woman had an explosive hidden in her bag and appeared to be planning to set it off in the market. He noted that the bomb was not physically attached to her.

"The bomb squad was called in, and the device was safely disrupted and later detonated in the presence of civilians and members of the media," he said.

"If we didn't have this intelligence, probably she would have succeeded, but we have been able to stop it. The market can continue with its business."

The development comes nearly three weeks after a suspected female suicide bomber and a suspected rebel died in an explosion near Munyonyo Martyrs' Shrine in Kampala during Martyrs Day celebrations on June 3.

Reports suggest that the two attackers had connections to the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a rebel group based in Congo affiliated with the Islamic State (IS), which has claimed responsibility for several bombings in 2021.

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