Uganda: Bomb attacks death toll rises to 64
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By Emmanuel Gyezaho and Andrew Bagala
Monday, July 12, 2010
Kampala, Uganda (Daily Monitor) - Authorities have confirmed at least 64 people dead following last night’s bomb explosions that ripped through Kampala city hitting a restaurant and a sports club.
Three explosive devices were detonated Sunday at the Ethiopian Village Restaurant in Kabalagala and at the Kyadondo Rugby Club where hundreds of revellers were watching the World Cup final match. “64 persons have been confirmed dead,” said Mr Fred Opolot, the head of the government’s public relations institution, Media Centre.
He also said some 57 others had been admitted at various hospitals in and around the city nursing serious injuries while 14 people had been treated for minor injuries and discharged. “Identification and trauma centres are being set up at Mulago Hospital and International Hospital Kampala,” he added.
President Museveni is currently inspecting the bomb blast scenes and is also expected to visit the injured people admitted in several hospitals.
Police publicist Judith Nabakooba said investigations headed by the Anti-Terrorism Task force continue in earnest to establish who masterminded the deadly attacks. Ms Nabakooba told reporters that of the 64 dead, 15 were killed at the Ethiopian Village and 59 at Lugogo Rugby Club, adding that 10 of the dead were either Ethiopian or Eritrean.
While Ms Nabakooba admitted that the police are still looking for “clues” over who carried out the grisly attacks, Mr Opolot said the government suspected this was an “act of suicide bombers.” His comments are corroborated by army spokesman Felix Kulayigye who told Reuters: “At one of the scenes, investigators identified a severed head of a Somali national, which we suspect could have been a suicide bomber.”
In the recent past, Somali Islamists have threatened to attack Uganda for sending peacekeeping troops to their country under the auspices of the African Union to protect the struggling government of Sheikh Ahmed Sharif.
The Islamists under their group al Shabaab have close ties with Osama Bin Laden’s al Qaeda military network who are known for conducting twin coordinated attacks.
Source: Daily Monitor
