Military has in detention at Makindye barracks a “family man” who is suspected to have coordinated series of petrol bomb attacks in Kampala last week, TrumpetNews has learnt.
This man whose names the military said would not be released for fear of jeopardizing investigations was picked up from Katwe, in Kampala and found with hundreds of petrol bombs, sharp crafted long iron nails used to deflate cars and other explosives.
The media reported last week that Special Forces Command –SFC which protects the President and other key public figures including government installations had taken over the hunt for the petrol bombers.
A military official at the heart of these investigations who also asked not be named said the petrol bombs confiscated are similar to stick grenades and the suspected criminal confessed to making them.
“We arrested over 20 people, but most importantly, we have a man who said he is a supporter of NUP and led the operation of throwing these bombs,” said the military official who couldn’t provide more details.
It remains unknown whether the suspect was acting on orders of the NUP establishment but security had earlier warned of a plan by Robert Kyagulanyi’s supporters to cause mayhem during President Yoweri Museveni’s swearing in.
The attack on several buildings in Kampala happened hours before Museveni’s inauguration at Kololo on 12th May, 2021.
Petrol bombers attacked Georgia House in Kampala which is located a few strides away from Central Police Station, meters away from Judiciary headquarters, 500 meters from Sheraton Hotel and half a kilometer from Nakasero State House.
In the attacks, several cars were destroyed included former Jinja Municipality Eric Sakwa’s vehicle.
He narrowly survived death.
A separate military official told this website when asked about the damage the petrol bomb can cause, he said it can injure and kill hundreds during explosion.
After the attack Police announced that 11 people had been arrested who were behind the wave of attacks.
The suspects, according to Police Spokesperson, Fred Enanga, were arrested on May 11th, a day before President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s swearing in for his sixth elective term.
A number of petrol bomb incidents were registered in Kampala City, Wakiso and Jinja in the past few weeks. Enanga said these were acts intended to cause panic and fear among the public as the country prepared to swear in the president.
Enanga says the suspects are being will be charged with terrorism because their plan was to interfere with the swearing in ceremony of duly elected president but also to cause fear and panic among members of the public.
“We have 11 suspects who we are processing on charges of terrorism. These were actively involved in attacking motorists in jam and vehicles government premises. They made some attempts on petrol stations. Their actions are not only life threatening but had a potential of causing panic and fear against the public,” said Enanga.