Police and Joint security forces have released a statement on the explosion that hit a Swift Safaris Bus en route to Ishaka from Kampala on Monday evening along the Kampala-Masaka highway.
The bomb blast that occurred inside the bus was carrying 16 travelers on board at Lungala in Mpigi District, claiming one person on the spot and leaving another with grave injuries.
Police spokesperson Fred Enanga said in a media briefing on Tuesday that preliminary investigations show the terrorism act was plotted by two suspects including the suicide bomber identified as Isaac Matovu, who died in the bus. Enanga the bomber was wearing a suicide jacket and had a detonator in his hands.
“At the scene, we have recovered a suicide vest, metal bearings, detonator and wires. We have also identified the deceased suicide bomber as Isaac Matovu, 23 a resident of Kamuli A zone in Kireka who has been on the list of joint counter terrorism task force and we have been tracking as Mustafa. Enanga said
Enanga says the materials in this latest explosion are similar to those in the Improvised Explosive Device that went off at Digida pork joint in Komamboga on Saturday.
He further explains: “He(suicide bomber) was traveling with another after both of them boarded the bus from Kisenyi bus terminal that left Kampala at 4pm and made a stopover at our checkpoint in Maya,” Enanga said.
He adds that two kilometers after the Maya checkpoint, one of the passengers asked to get off the bus so as to return to Kampala to process his travel documents after receiving an urgent call.
Enanga says Matovu has been a fugitive on the wanted list of ADF terror suspects and was being pursued as Mustafa, a resident of Kamuli zone, in Kira Municipality. He says police has already interrogated the Swift Bus driver and conductor about how Matovu and his colleague who disembarked at Maya sneaked the explosives into the bus without their knowledge.
Enanga has linked all the attacks to Allied Democratic Forces – ADF. He explains that the commander of the ADF terror cell terrorizing Ugandans is Med Nkalubo also known as Benjamin Franklin, who is hiding in DRC jungles for six years.
Police say Nkalubo was similary behind a suicide mission during the burial of Deputy Inspector General of Police Lt Gen Paul Lokech where one person was arrested with an explosive vest. Another person linked to the group Hamidu Nsubuga was shot dead in Kyebando.
Security says that the group has been receiving money from ADF finders and so far one Aisha Katushabe had received and distributed more than USD 110,000 which translate into more than 300 million Shillings.
Fuel dealers and suppliers have also been cited in fueling ADF terror groups. Security says more than USD 400,000 has been laundered into the country through petroleum companies purposely to fund ADF terror activities.
