KAMPALA, Uganda — A contentious narrative has developed following an explosion near the Munyonyo Martyrs’ Shrine on Tuesday morning, with the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) offering an account that is being widely questioned by eyewitnesses and circulating video footage.
Images of suspected suicide bombers exploding before reportedly reaching their target, the Munyonyo Martyrs’ Shrine, began circulating on social media shortly before 9:00 a.m. Approximately 40 minutes later, Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Acting Spokesperson, Col Chris Magezi, posted on X (formerly Twitter), confirming that the military’s counter-terrorism unit had “exterminated” the suspects.
“A UPDF counter-terrorism team 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. The general public is urged to remain calm but vigilant and report to the security services any suspicious individuals, objects, or activities for immediate attention,” Col Magezi stated.
Immediately following this official statement, questions arose online regarding the UPDF’s account.
Social media users challenged how the UPDF could have neutralized the suspects when eyewitnesses reported seeing the duo detonate themselves without being pursued. One X user wrote: “How did UPDF kill the suspects when my security guard saw two people explode on their own? No one was chasing them.”
In an attempt to provide clarity, the UPDF convened a press conference at 3:00 p.m. at its headquarters in Mbuya. However, Col Magezi’s explanation appeared to further confuse the situation. “Our team stopped and asked these people where they were going and what they were carrying, and they could not explain. Our team fired at them. The woman decided to detonated the bomb after realizing the mission had failed,” he said.
This televised press briefing intensified skepticism across social media platforms. Many users cited CCTV footage released by residents near the blast site, which reportedly depicted the alleged terrorists riding a motorcycle behind a passenger taxi, with no visible military personnel. In the footage, the man and woman appear to explode approximately 100 meters away from the Munyonyo Martyrs Shrine.
An X user posted, “Now, show us in this video who shot at these terrorists? This video clearly shows them exploding on their own. You claim you killed them, yet you arrived after the explosion.” Another commented: “The terrorists killed themselves. But the way UPDF is chasing credit…I’ve given up.”
A different post read: “Much as I like the UPDF, on this one you are wrong. Something doesn’t add up. The camera focuses only on the boda guy. So who actually killed them — UPDF or the bomb blast?” Many members of the public are now urging the UPDF to release clearer footage to substantiate their version of events.
Critics argue that unless the military can provide concrete visual evidence supporting its claimed interception, such as a soldier firing at the suspects, the official narrative is likely to remain questionable in the public’s perception.
