Uganda has stepped up security at shopping areas and other public places in the capital Kampala and other major towns following the terrorist attack in neighbouring Kenya that has killed at least 69 people.
Security forces are leaving nothing to chance after an attack by the Somali Islamist group Al-Shabaab during the 2010 World Cup finals left 74 people dead. Al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility for the siege on Nairobi’s Westgate Mall that began on Saturday that has also left 175 people injured.
Police chief, Kale Kayihura, said they were taking the security threat seriously.
“It is important to tighten security at public places to avert similar attacks,” he said, adding: “What has happened in Kenya is very unfortunate and can happen anywhere”. Al-Shabaab claims to be avenging the invasion of Somalia by Kenyan troops that began in October 2011 in response to cross-border attacks by the militant group.
Kenya joined troops from Burundi and Uganda, who play a leading role in AMISOM (African Union Mission in Somalia) to support the Horn of Africa country’s fragile government. Uganda government spokesman, Ofwono Opondo has said the country is not considering leaving Somalia anytime soon. ”Our troops will stay in Somalia until when peace is brought back into that country,” he said.
Meanwhile, Uganda’s Information Minister Rose Namayanja has condemned what she termed “a cowardly act of terrorism” following the siege on the Nairobi mall.
“It is a misguided act of desperation designed by evil elements to divide the people of Kenya and break the country’s resolve and to support the global anti-terrorism fight and the on-going UN Stabilisation Mission in Somalia,” she said, adding: “The government of the Republic of Uganda stands firmly in solidarity with the Government of our sister-country, Kenya and the bereaved families and the People of Kenya at large during this difficult period.”
