One suspect shot, 6 arrested as police seize bomb materials in Nabweru

One person was ‘mistakenly shot’ when a police officer forgot to put a safety pin on, and his gun discharged a bullet that struck Hamidu Muyondi in the leg during a joint security operation in Nabweru, Wakiso district.

The operation aimed at nipping calls for nationwide anti-government protests started on Sunday night and went into Monday morning involving the police, military intelligence and the army.

“The suspected terrorists had a camp here where they were assembling and making IEDs [improvised explosive devices],” said Luke Owoyesigyire, the Kampala Metropolitan Police deputy spokesperson.

“The suspects we have will be taken to one of our police stations for more interviews and interrogations to ascertain the aim and probably their targets.”

The arrested suspects were identified as Hamidu Ssekidde, Muhammad Kalyango, Abdul Katumba, Arafat Ssali, Emmanuel Asiimwe and Hamidu Muyondi.

According to the deputy spokesperson, Muyondi’s injury is minor. Police said the suspects wanted to cause mayhem in Kampala following online posts calling for Ugandans to come out in large numbers and join anti-government protests.

The social media posts had symbols and hashtags normally used by the National Unity Party (NUP), the main opposition group to Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni. However, when called party officials said they were not behind the posts and chose not to make a comment about the arrests.

Police have not filed formal charges against the terror suspects. Charges are expected after an investigation, which will attempt to find any collaborators connected to the six.