KAMPALA, Uganda — Security forces have released an image of a female suicide bomber who was killed on Tuesday during a thwarted attack aimed at pilgrims in Munyonyo. Authorities have identified her as the daughter of a bomber Abdul Shakuru, involved in the November 2021 bombing at the Kampala Central Police Station.
Two people, a man and a woman who were carrying explosive material on a motorcycle, died when the explosive detonated prematurely as they attempted to gain access to the Munyonyo Basilica, a significant site for the Uganda Martyrs’ Day pilgrimage.
Intelligence sources had earlier indicated that she was wearing a suicide vest, which was allegedly detonated after she was shot by counter-terrorism operatives from the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF).
This intelligence-driven operation also led to the neutralization of a second male suspect.
Reports indicate that the suspects arrived at the location via motorcycle, which was destroyed in the explosion.
Addressing the media in Mbuya on Tuesday, Col. Chris Magezi, the UPDF Director of Defence Public Information, identified the female bomber as Aisha Katushabe, also known as Sumatah Byahunaga or Kabonesa.
Magezi also said that the bomber was the daughter of Abdul Shakuru, who blew himself up in 2021 at the Central Police Station- CPS and the widow of one of the ADF suspects who was killed after plotting to kill mourners at the funeral of the former Deputy IGP Paul Loketch.
Human remains were recovered from the scene, and the area remains under tight security as forensic investigations are ongoing.
Residents speak out on explosion
Residents of Munyonyo woke up to an explosion that rocked the area. At 8:30 am, the explosion occurred on Tuesday near Munyonyo Martyrs’ Shrine, where thousands of pilgrims had gathered for the religious commemoration. It is reported that two people, who were carrying explosive material on a motorcycle, died when the explosive detonated prematurely.
Rashid Musisi, a boda boda rider, said a man carrying a woman on a motorcycle asked for directions to the Basilica at around 8:20 a.m. “They both had backpacks. About five minutes later, we heard a blast. At first, we thought it was a tire burst, but then people started running toward the scene,” he said. “We found their lifeless bodies there. They were still recognisable—that’s how we knew it was the same duo.”
Another eyewitness, Fiona Nakafero, said panic broke out immediately after the explosion. “People who had lined up to enter the Basilica, along with residents nearby, fled in fear,” she said.
Samuel Mukiibi, a resident of Salama who was attending mass at the Shrine, says that when they heard the explosion, there was commotion at the Church, but the Priest told them to remain calm.
According to Mukiibi, although people first scampered in different directions because of the explosion shock, some later returned and crowded around the blast scene until other security agencies cordoned off the area. Mukiibi is convinced that God wanted them alive.
A resident, who preferred anonymity, and lives meters away from the blast scene, says that as they were having breakfast, they heard a big bang. He says he thought a car tyre had burst, but a few minutes later, he ran to the scene and couldn’t believe what he saw before his eyes.
Twenty minutes after the explosion, joint security forces—comprising the army, police counter-terrorism units, Special Forces Command, and plain-clothed operatives arrived at the scene. They were later joined by the bomb squad and Scene of Crime officers, who combed the area for evidence. The entrance to the Basilica was also sealed off.
Security personnel at the scene of the crime, who preferred anonymity, say that the explosive detonated before reaching the church.
The November 2021 attacks in Kampala, for which the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a terrorist organization with ties to the Islamic State (ISIS), claimed responsibility, included a suicide bombing at the entrance of the Kampala Central Police Station and another in the vicinity of Parliament Avenue. These incidents were among the deadliest acts of terrorism in Uganda in recent years.
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Earlier on Tuesday, Col. Chris Magezi, the Acting Director of Defence Public Information, stated, “A UPDF counter-terrorism unit this morning intercepted and neutralized two armed terrorists in Munyonyo, an upscale city suburb. It was an intelligence-led operation, and the security services are on heightened alert to ensure the Martyrs Day celebrations proceed without disruption.”
This attempted attack occurs as Uganda prepares to host its annual Uganda Martyrs Day celebrations, which commemorate the execution of 45 Christian converts between 1885 and 1887. The event typically draws millions of pilgrims each year.
